Scotland aims to be “zero waste” society

The Scottish government has outlined proposals to ban recyclable materials such as glass, paper, metals and textiles from being sent to landfill.

Other plans for a ‘zero waste’ Scotland include extending the ban on sending hazardous waste to landfill and providing incentives for businesses to increase recycling rates.

An estimated 2,000 new jobs will be created if the legislation is passed.

Richard Lochhead, environment secretary, said the proposals are a “positive step” towards “viewing [waste] 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,” he said.

“Reducing waste is good for business, as well as for the environment, as it reduces costs.

“We need to do more to tackle all types of commercial waste.”

In the first quarter of this year, Scotland’s recycling and composting rate increased to 33.2%, three percentage points higher that during the first three months of 2008.

In the same period, the amount of municipal waste sent to landfill in Scotland decreased by 120,000 tonnes.

“We are making progress, but we must go further in relation to all types of waste,” Lochhead said.

“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.”

Friends of the Earth Scotland welcomed the proposals, but warned that incinerators “have no role to play in a genuine zero-waste economy”.