Reducing emissions from waste disposal
Reducing emissions from waste disposal is essential for reaching Scotland’s climate targets. We have made significant progress in reducing waste, increasing recycling, and decarbonising the waste sector. Between 1998 and 2024, emissions from the waste management sector decreased by 76% against peak levels. Emissions from landfill in 2024 were the lowest on record (at 1.1 MtCO2e).
The production and management of waste results in environmental impacts and represents missed economic opportunities for these materials.
As we accelerate our move to a circular economy, we will produce less waste.
We are minimising the carbon impact of waste that cannot be avoided, reused or recycled by:
- supporting compliance with the ban on biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill
- developing a residual waste plan by 2027 to secure best environmental outcomes for materials and set strategic direction for managing residual waste to 2045
- developing a sector-led plan to minimise the carbon impacts of the energy from waste sector, ensuring that actions are aligned with net zero ambitions