Paper: ZWTT (2008) (01)
ZERO WASTE THINK TANK FOR SCOTLAND
PAPER BY THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ON REMIT AND FUNCTIONS OF THE THINK TANK
Introduction
1. Welcome!
Remit
2. The proposed remit of the Think Tank is to:
"to advise Scottish Ministers, in the context of the revision of the National Waste Plan, on policies that assist in moving towards a zero waste Scotland, the environmental, social and economic implications of these polices and the work that needs to be done to implement these policies".
Members of the Think Tank are asked whether they have any comments on the proposed remit.
Proposed method of working
3. We propose that:
- Other people and bodies could be invited to attend meetings of the Think Tank, either as observers or where they have specific expertise on subjects under discussion.
- The Think Tank would be asked to consider the points made in the Cabinet Secretary's statement of 24 January and what work needs to be carried out to achieve the objectives laid out in this statement
- The Statement made reference to the creation of a Zero Waste Fund with a budget of approximately £150m over the next 3 years. This budget is intended to fund the work of various delivery bodies (such as the Waste and Resources Action Programme, the Scottish Waste Awareness Group and Remade, the work of the community recycling sector and the development of waste infrastructure by local authorities). The Scottish Government and COSLA have jointly set up a short life working group to provide advice to consider how best to use the resources to fund waste infrastructure. Members of the Task Force may also want to make suggestions for how the resources in this budget could be used to make progress in moving towards zero waste.
Members of the Think Tank are asked to comment on this proposed method of working.
Areas for discussion by the Think Tank
4. At the first meeting, the Think Tank will discuss the definition of zero waste and using waste as a resource and potential waste legislation. Separate papers have been prepared on these issues.
5. In the light of the Cabinet Secretary's statement of 24 January, the Scottish Government proposes that the Think Tank should consider the following issues:
- How best to reach high municipal waste recycling rates (including incentives for householders and councils and more specific issues such as recycling and flats, recycling in the remoter parts of Scotland, and the scope for recycling a wider range of materials such as plastics).
- Waste prevention and specifically moving beyond the current household waste prevention action plan
- Maximising the business and economic opportunities from sustainable waste management including the role of economic development agencies and the scope for increasing reprocessing of recyclate in Scotland.
- Waste management and climate change.
- The scope for better integration of waste and energy policy.
- How best to motivate business waste producers to engage with sustainable waste management, and targets on reducing the amount of commercial and industrial waste sent to landfill.
Members of the Think Tank are asked for their views on whether these are appropriate issues for the Think Tank to consider and what action needs to be carried out to ensure the objectives laid out in the Cabinet Secretary's statement of 24 January are met.
Frequency of meetings
6. The Scottish Government wants to ensure that Think Tank members' time is spent as usefully as possible.
7. Clearly, Think Tank members can offer views outwith meetings. One option would be to establish some form of on-line forum where Think Tank members, and others, could offer views on the future direction of waste policy.
8. During the review of the National Waste Plan, the Government does intend to run (with the help of various delivery partners) a number of focus groups or small consultation meetings with key parties (eg waste industry, local authorities, householders, business waste producers, community recyclers etc).
9. In terms of physical meetings of the Think Tank, the Government's preliminary view is that there could be a further meeting in about one month. Thereafter, meetings could be less frequent, if Members consider that appropriate work is in place to meet the key objectives of the Cabinet Secretary's statement of 24 January.
Members of the Think Tank are asked for their views on the frequency of meetings of the Think Tank and how best members could offer views in between meetings.
Summary of questions for members of the Think Tank
10. Members of the Think Tank are asked:
- whether they have any comments on the proposed remit;
- whether they have any comments on the proposed method of working;
- whether the issues outlined in paragraph 5 are the correct ones for the Think Tank to consider;
- what action needs to be carried out to ensure the objectives laid out in the Cabinet Secretary's statement of 24 January are met.
- their views on the frequency of meetings of the Think Tank and how best members could offer views in between meetings.
Waste and Pollution Reduction Division
Environmental Quality Directorate
The Scottish Government
March 2008