Consultation on reducing waste in Scotland FPA response

A raft of proposals to help cut waste by 15% by 2025 have been launched for consultation in Scotland with the publication of a document, Safeguarding Scotland's Resources outlinging a programme for the efficient use of our materials with plans to help businesses cut waste by improving product design and packaging.

It also has proposals on changing attitudes and behaviour to cutting waste including a one trip carrier bag levy.

The proposal includes an ammendment to the Producer Responsibility regulations to enable separate identification of packaging waste arising in Scotland. A movement away from a national PRN system therefore will mean idenitifying exact data for business's activities in Scotland and could add to adminsitration.

We have until late September 2012 to submit our response and while a response will be made by the FPA we encourage FPA to submit their own respnses as well.

In the consultation document, Scottish environment secretary Richard Lochhead said he was proposing additional targets for an initial 5% reduction in total waste by 2015, with a longer term aim for a 15% reduction by 2025. He said: "We will make this happen through a series of actions designed to engage and support both businesses and the public to make it easy to do the right thing. "

The proposals in the consultation document, which are part of Scotland's Zero Waste Plan, include:

·  Simplifying access to business resource efficiency advice and voluntary agreements with businesses with a focus on waste prevention.

·  Creating a Zero Waste Pledge to recognise a companies' commitment to cutting waste.

·  Developing data and benchmarking tools to help efficiency.

·  Explore the potential for a voluntary agreement with the waste management industry to help their customers reduce waste and recycle more.

·  Ensuring appropriate further and higher education on sustainable design is available.

·  Increase the supply and demand for quality reusable items through improving collection, promotion and public procurement. A charge for one-trip carrier bags.

·  Funding community-led waste prevention through the Climate Challenge Fund.

·  Rolling out sustainable procurement training and best practice guidance across the public sector.

Our response to the consultation can be downloaded using the link below