Scotland drafts plan on how to become a zero waste society

20 August 2009

Scotland will unveil a new plan on how it is to achieve a zero waste society, which in turn will create a wealth of jobs, reduce waste and improve facilities.

Launching a 12-week consultation on the plan in Inverness, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead, said, ‘Scotland must reduce its impact on the local and global environment. Our draft Zero Waste Plan maps out how we can reduce the country’s waste, meet our highly ambitious waste targets and contribute to the work on climate change. This is a positive step in tackling Scotland’s waste – viewing it as a resource rather than a problem. There are major economic benefits, as well as environmental gains, to be had including creating thousands of jobs and new business opportunities.’

The Scottish government has already signed a commitment to slash its construction waste to landfill by 50 per cent by 2012.

‘We are making progress but we must go further in relation to all types of waste. SEPA’s latest provisional figures show that we are already recycling and composting 34.3 per cent of our municipal waste, but we need to reach 40 per cent by the end of 2010. The bar is set and we must work together to reach our goal of a Zero Waste Scotland,’ Lochhead added.

The plan, when finalised, will outline the Scottish government’s priorities and policies in relation to waste with a view to fulfilling key targets of 40 per cent recycling levels by 2010 and 70 per cent levels by 2025. The final version is expected to be released in 2010.

Councillor John Laing, chairman of the Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee, for Highland Council, said, ‘We are delighted the Cabinet Secretary has launched this ambitious plan in Inverness. Highland Council is committed to improving its recycling rates and we aim to reach a recycling rate of 50 per cent by 2013. We welcome a Zero Waste Plan and hope all will make the most of this consultation phase and have their say.’

Copyright © 2009 NewNet

Tags: energy efficiency, recycling, waste

This story was published on Thursday, August 20th, 2009 at 4:15 pm and is filed under Europe, energy efficiency, policy. You can follow any responses to article entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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