News
Scottish Government Launches Consultation on Efficient Use of Resources
Published 03 July 2012 in Footprint and Sustainable Consumption
On 27 June the Scottish Government launched a major consultation on a range of proposed measures designed to reduce waste and encourage more efficient use of materials. Measures include: additional national targets for waste reduction, the introduction of a charge for carrier bags, and a range of actions to stimulate business resource efficiency.
The consultation, Safeguarding Scotland’s Resources: A programme for the efficient use of our materials, builds on Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan (2010) and the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012, and aims to bring Scottish patterns of consumption to a more sustainable level.
Thirteen measures, or ‘actions’, are proposed in the document, split across four broad areas: business resource efficiency; products and packaging; reuse, and; influencing behaviours. Alongside the 13 actions, the document also proposes an additional national target of a 5% reduction in all waste by 2015, and a longer term vision of a 15% reduction in all waste by 2025.
Specific measures proposed in the document include:
- Legislating to require retailers to charge a minimum of 5p for carrier bags
- Promoting community action to prevent waste through continuing to support community-led waste prevention through the Climate Challenge Fund, and potentially adapting Zero Waste Scotland’s ‘Zero Waste Pledge’ model for communities.
- Improving the design of local authority waste collection systems at the local level through additional support and guidance.
- Public bodies’ leadership on sustainable resource use and waste prevention, especially through increasing levels of sustainable procurement.
- Working to increase the supply and demand for quality reusable items through improving collection, promotion and public procurement.
- Developing a new single service to replace business and public sector resource and energy efficiency advice and support currently delivered through Carbon Trust, Energy Saving Trust and Zero Waste Scotland.
- Encouraging prevention, reuse and recycling of construction wastes through promoting Site Waste Management Plans and the Halving Waste to Landfill commitment.
- Promoting sustainable design of products and services, and taking steps to reduce packaging waste arising from Scotland.
"The challenge is to minimise the resources we need to deliver the quality of life we have come to expect, while reaping the economic benefits. This programme is about helping Scottish businesses become more competitive, about helping Scottish households cut costs, and about helping to preserve our environment for ourselves and for future generations."
The consultation closes on 28 September.
Access the full consultation.
Access the related Scottish Government press release.