The Scottish Government launched Scotland's first Zero Waste Plan on the 9th June 2010. ( Summary leaflet also available)
Scotland's Zero Waste Plan sets out the Scottish Government's vision for a zero waste society. This vision describes a Scotland where all waste is seen as a resource; Waste is minimised; valuable resources are not disposed of in landfills, and most waste is sorted, leaving only limited amounts to be treated.
To achieve this vision the Plan sets out radical new measures, including:
· Development of a Waste Prevention Programme for all wastes, ensuring the prevention and reuse of waste is central to all our actions and policies
· Landfill bans for specific waste types therefore reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and capturing the value from these resources
· Separate collections of specific waste types, including food, to avoid contaminating other materials, increasing reuse and recycling opportunities and contributing to our renewable energy targets
· Two new targets that will apply to all waste: 70 per cent target recycled, and minimum 5 per cent sent to landfill, both by 2025
· Restrictions on the input to all energy from waste facilities, in the past only applicable to municipal waste, therefore encouraging greater waste prevention, reuse and recycling.
· Encouraging local authorities and the resource management sector to establish good practice commitments and work together to create consistent waste management services, benefitting businesses and the public.
· Improved information on different waste sources, types and management highlighting further economic and environmental opportunities
· Measure the carbon impacts of waste to prioritise the recycling of resources which offer the greatest environmental and climate change outcomes
Everyone has their part to play in this vision and make sure Scotland benefits from the economic and environmental advantages to be gained from zero waste. Zero Waste Scotland is the organisation created to support delivery of the Zero Waste Plan. It will serve as a one-stop-shop for businesses and individuals looking for advice or support on how to use resources more efficiently, reduce waste and recycle more.
Achieving zero waste will make a positive contribution to Scotland's climate change and renewable energy targets as more waste is prevented, less waste is sent to landfill, and more resources are reused, recycled and recovered. A zero waste society will also support sustainable economic development as new waste facilities mean new investment and job opportunities and as businesses become more resource efficient, costs are reduced and a competitive advantage is gained.
Scotland has made great improvements on waste in the last few years by increasing recycling rates and reducing the amount of waste we send to landfill.
However, there is still a lot more to do.
The following documents have directly informed the development of the forthcoming Zero Waste Plan:
· Meeting Scotland's Zero Waste Targets: Assessing the Costs Associated with New Waste Management Infrastructure Zero Waste Plan
· Scotland's Zero Waste Plan: Consultation (closed on November 13, 2009)
· Consultation: responses and analysis
· Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): Environmental Report
· UK Packaging Strategy
· What does it mean for householders
· Reducing Waste Through Promoting Product Ecodesign: A Discussion Paper
· Zero Waste Think Tank
· Parliamentary Debates: June 2009 and May 2010