Scotland drives forward zero waste plans
The Scottish government's goal of becoming a zero waste economy has taken a step forward with its draft Waste Regulations 2012 being laid before parliament
The new Regulations aim to improve recycling rates and the quantity of recyclate to help achieve Scotland’s 2025 target to recycle 70% of waste, which was outlined in the 2010 Zero Waste Plan.
Subject to the approval of parliament, the Regulations will amend the Environmental Protection Act 1990, and other existing waste legislation, introducing new duties on organisations producing controlled waste and food waste to “take all reasonable steps” to ensure separate collection of recyclate from January 2014.
The draft Regulations have been published online and organisations have until 11 April to submit their written views on the proposals to the Scottish parliament’s committee on rural affairs, climate change and environment.
Scotland’s waste industry body, the Scottish Environmental Services Association (SESA), hailed the new Regulations as a welcome new approach to resource efficiency, but warned that the Scottish government’s ambitions to impose the new duties in less than two years would be challenging
SESA policy executive, Stephen Freeland, said: “The delivery timetable is very ambitious and the Scottish government must develop a coordinated campaign with SESA and others to promote awareness of the new regulatory requirements and ensure that these are properly enforced.”
The Scottish Parliament is also calling for further written views on its draft Regulations, stakeholders have until 11 April to contribute their views.