New waste regulations must go hand in hand with waste reduction targets

Friends of the Earth Scotland welcomed the announcement yesterday (10 May 2012) about the introduction of new regulations to increase recycling by business and households, and particularly the focus on waste as a resource.

Friends of the Earth Scotland said: “However, in order to seriously tackle Scotland’s waste mountain and conserve precious resourcesn we need to target efforts on reducing the amount of waste we produce in the first place.

“Ambitious waste reduction targets should be established, with an increased focus on tackling upstream waste, with supermarkets and product manufacturers encouraged or required to reduce excess packaging at source.”

ENDS

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

Notes to Editors

1. New waste regulations for Scotland – Scottish government press release www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2012/05/wasteregs10052012

2. Friends of the Earth Scotland briefing on waste, incineration and biomass for the Labour party debate on waste management.
www.foe-scotland.org.uk/waste_management_debate

3. Friends of the Earth Scotland response to the Scottish Government’s consultation Implementing Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan
www.foe-scotland.org.uk/zero_waste_consultation_response

4. Friends of the Earth Scotland is * Scotland’s leading environmental campaigning organisation * An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland * Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 77 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups – covering every continent.
www.foe-scotland.org.uk