The Scottish government has launched proposals that it says will help “tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis” by supporting Scotland’s transition to a zero-waste and circular economy.
The government says the new measures will help cut waste and preserve precious resources and that the measures are designed to increase reuse and recycling rates “significantly”, as well as “modernise and improve” waste and recycling services.
The key proposals include banning the destruction of unsold goods, measures to reduce the consumption of “problematic” single-use items and promote the reuse of products, and a mandatory requirement for businesses to report surplus and waste figures for goods such as food and textiles.
The proposals are set out in two consultations – on a Circular Economy Bill and a Waste Route Map.
These consultations set out the key proposed actions and the tools we will put in place to help everyone play their part in cutting waste in our economy, capitalising on the economic opportunities that a circular economy presents to businesses.
Scotland’s circular economy targets, outlined in the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan, include ending the landfilling of biodegradable municipal waste by 2025, reducing the percentage of all waste sent to landfills to 5% by 2025, and recycling 70% of all waste by 2025.
Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater, who launched the consultations, said: “We must make a circular option the easy option for Scottish households, businesses and the public sector. I want everyone in the country to experience a modern, easy to use waste service that makes it easy for people to do the right thing for the planet.
“These consultations set out the key proposed actions and the tools we will put in place to help everyone play their part in cutting waste in our economy, capitalising on the economic opportunities that a circular economy presents to businesses.”