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Ministerial foreword by the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead
Moving towards a Zero Waste society will ensure we obtain greater economic, social and environmental value from the resources which have been considered to be waste. Zero Waste is a concept which is increasingly being adopted internationally. Zero Waste is about reducing the unnecessary use of raw materials, sustainable design of products, preventing waste, and recovering value from products and materials when they reach the end of their lives through recycling, composting or energy recovery.
The work in this area contributes to our work on combating climate change. Waste management alone contributes about 2.5% of the Scottish Greenhouse Gas emissions. And reducing the unnecessary use of raw materials, preventing waste, using recyclate and getting value from waste rather than just throwing it away can all contribute further to tackling climate change.
Achieving the Scottish Government's ambitious targets will be a challenge but most people and many of the organisations I have spoken to are keen for Scotland to rise to the challenge. Hard work will be required by Government, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency ( SEPA), local authorities, the private waste industry, the community recycling sector, waste delivery bodies, businesses and public sector bodies which produce waste and householders.
In particular, we will need:
- The Government, with help from SEPA and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities ( CoSLA), to produce a clear and comprehensive revised National Waste Management Plan for Scotland, showing the people of Scotland how Zero Waste can be achieved.
- SEPA to continue its work to improve waste data and to ensure that regulation is proportionate.
- Local authorities to continue their work to increase recycling and composting and improve local recycling facilities.
- Linked Waste Aware Scotland information programmes to provide information to householders on recycling facilities, particularly aimed at specific materials and specific areas.
- Continued work by the Waste and Resources Action Programme and REMADE Scotland to develop markets for products so that they can be recycled, particularly in relation to difficult materials such as mixed plastics.
- More reprocessing facilities in Scotland to turn recycled materials and compost into new products.
- Increasing recognition by private sector businesses of the need for cleaner design of products, to reduce the unnecessary use of raw materials, to reduce the amount of waste produced and to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
- Improved performance by the public sector, including the Scottish Government, to reduce the amount of waste we produce and send to landfill and a stronger lead in procuring products which utilise recycled materials.
- Everyone in Scotland to recognise the part they can play in achieving a zero waste society.
When considering the way ahead, the Scottish Government considers that legislation may play a part. As outlined in paragraph 8.13 of the consultation on the proposals for the Scottish Climate Change Bill, the Government is considering if specific provisions on waste management should be included in the Climate Change Bill. Other countries in the EU - with higher recycling rates than Scotland - have legislation in place to encourage environmentally sustainable behaviour by business, retailers, the public sector and individuals. In Scotland, most of the legislation in place on waste implements EU Directives. On the whole, we have not gone beyond that.
However, we need to be sure that any legislative proposals add real value and do not have unintended adverse consequences. The purpose of this consultation is to test our initial proposals against these criteria and encourage debate and discussion on ideas on waste minimisation.
It is important to note that implementing the proposals in this paper would require secondary legislation which would also be scrutinised by Parliament and developed following further consultation on the detailed implementation. We think this is the right approach because our aim is to develop a framework of relevant powers that can be used if and when they are needed on the journey towards a zero waste society.
This journey will be a long one. It is, however, an essential journey that will safeguard the planet's resources as well as creating economic activity and bringing other benefits. We aim to change how a nation regards its waste and resources. We want to ensure that the people of Scotland are fully engaged with its Government as we embark on that journey.
RICHARD LOCHHEAD
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment
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