Zero waste plan makes welcome steps towards waste reduction

Friends of the Earth Scotland has welcomed the publication of Scotland’s ‘Zero Waste Plan’, which makes “welcome steps” towards waste reduction and better waste management.

Duncan McLaren, Friends of the Earth Scotland Chief Executive, said:

“Although this plan does not guarantee that Scotland will achieve ‘zero waste’ it makes welcome steps in the right direction. Extending the 70% recycling target to cover other sectors such as commercial, industrial and construction wastes as well as household waste, is most welcome.

“But achieving such recycling rates will be made harder if Scotland fails to reduce overall waste volumes. We regret therefore, that the Government has still not set an overall target for waste reduction.

“The proposals to ban recyclable and biodegradeable material from landfill and to prevent recyclable material from being incinerated for energy recovery are also welcome. We look forward to the detailed proposals which will determine whether the waste industry is forced to drop its wasteful and polluting proposals for large scale mixed waste incinerators, and instead direct invested into better recycling and energy recovery through anaerobic digestion of biodegradable wastes.

“Ministers must also begin a grown-up debate on waste charging. In Flanders, held up as an exemplar by the Scottish Government, waste reduction and high recycling rates have been achieved through the combination of landfill and incineration bans with pay-as-you-throw charges which have allowed the average household to cut their waste disposal bill to around 1 euro per week.”

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact: Per Fischer, Press Office, Friends of the Earth Scotland t: 0131 243 2719

Notes to editors

Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/06/08092645/0

Friends of the Earth Scotland is the country’s leading independent environmental campaigning organisation, and is the only organisation in Scotland that is working for environmental justice, campaigning for the planet and its people. www.foe-scotland.org.uk