2030 Route map to circular economy unveiled.
Actions aimed at ensuring households and businesses in Scotland
boost reuse and recycling rates and cut waste have been
published.
The Circular Economy and Waste Route Map sets out 11 priority
areas where efforts and resources will be concentrated to support
a transition to a circular economy – where resources are kept in
use for as long as possible.
They include:
- setting new circular economy targets
- reducing the amount of food waste produced
- developing a model for regional hubs and networks for the
reuse of construction materials and assets
- improving the provision of recycling and waste services
- minimising the carbon impacts of the energy from waste sector
The Route Map is the product of extensive collaboration and
engagement with the public, private and third sectors through two
consultations since 2022, with consistently high levels of
support for the proposals.
The overall recycling rate in Scotland is at its highest level
since records began in 2011, and the actions in the Route Map
complement provisions in the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act
2024, which was passed unanimously by MSPs in June.
Acting Net Zero Secretary launched the Route Map at a
visit to Grassmarket Community Project in Edinburgh, which
upcycles discarded wooden furniture into new items.
She said: “Reusing and recycling materials has a huge role to
play in Scotland's response to tackling the climate crisis.
“We must make the circular option, where we value materials and
keep them in use for as long as possible, either in their
original form or recycled, an easier choice for Scottish
households, businesses and the public sector.
“The Route Map sets out an ambitious plan to help make this a
reality and I want to thank all those who have contributed to its
development.
“There have been consistently high levels of support for its
actions, which promote and support responsible production and
consumption, along with the sustainable management of Scotland's
resources – and the final route map will be key to supporting the
Scottish Government's net zero and economic growth goals.”
Helene van der Ploeg, CEO of the Grassmarket Community
Project said: “We pride ourselves on our initiatives to
repurpose, recycle and reuse through our wood workshop, and
Tartan shop. Old furniture, church pews and fallen trees are
donated and re-worked into beautiful pieces of furniture or small
household items. Leftover tartan from weavers, and donated fabric
scraps are handcrafted into beautiful gifts.
"These materials, once considered waste and destined for
landfill, are now valuable contributors to the circular economy.
Thanks to generous donations, we're recycling these materials,
giving them new purpose, and creating timeless treasures that
will be passed down through generations.
"Along the way, we generate income, provide essential skills
training for our members (beneficiaries) and volunteers, all of
which embodies and reinforces the values of the Route Map and our
commitment to the circular economy."
Background
Read the Circular Economy and Waste
Route Map
Summary of priority actions:
* = Relates to provisions in the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act
2024
- Publish a Product Stewardship Plan to set out how we will
tackle the environmental impact of priority products by 2025/26
- Develop an intervention plan to guide long-term work on
household food waste reduction behaviour change by 2026/27
- *Develop with stakeholders' effective options to implement
mandatory reporting for food waste and surplus by businesses from
2025/26
- Support the development of a model for regional Scottish hubs
and networks for the reuse of construction materials and assets
from 2025-2027
- *Facilitate a co-design process for high quality, high
performing household recycling and reuse services, 2024 - 2026
- Review of compliance with commercial recycling requirements,
2026
- Co-design measures to improve commercial waste service
provisions, commencing by 2030
- Develop a Residual Waste Plan to 2045, by 2027
- Facilitate the development of a Sector-Led Plan to minimise
the carbon impacts of the energy from waste sector, by 2027
- *Develop a circular economy strategy every five years, with
first one published in 2026
- *Set new circular economy targets by 2027
