Circular economy and waste route map to 2030: consultation
The route map sets out strategic direction for delivering our system-wide, comprehensive vision Scotland’s circular economy from now to 2030. Building on a first consultation (2022), we are consulting on key priority actions that will unlock progress across the waste hierarchy.
Annex: Circular Economy and Waste Route Map measures
These tables summarise the actions and ambitions government will seek to take to accelerate progress and drive the delivery of sustainable resource use and a circular economy in Scotland to 2030. The actions are grouped into tables for each of the Route Map’s strategic aims and objectives, and provides target delivery dates where available.
As set out in earlier chapters, we recognise that some actions are not for government alone to deliver, and that these proposals will be subject to the outcomes of current and future spending allocations, availability of Parliamentary time and support, including the passage of the Circular Economy Bill, and further research where relevant to develop or explore.
(1) Reduce and Reuse
Measure (Priority measure in bold) |
Target delivery date |
|---|---|
Responsible consumption, production and reuse |
|
Develop and publish a Product Stewardship Plan to identify tackle the environmental impact of priority products |
By 2025/26 |
Deliver a prioritised approach to the introduction of environmental charges for problematic products |
By 2025/26 |
Introduce a charge for single-use disposable cups |
By 2025 |
Consult on actions regarding the environmental impacts of single-use vapes |
Ongoing |
Review the feasibility of setting reuse targets |
From 2025 |
Develop restrictions on the destruction of unsold consumer goods |
From 2024 |
Develop measures to improve the reuse experience for consumers |
Ongoing |
Deliver behaviour change-based approaches focused on sustainable consumption, aligned to Let’s Do Net Zero communications |
Ongoing |
Identify ways to expand business models that prolong product lifespan |
Ongoing |
Measure (Priority measure in bold) |
Target delivery date |
|---|---|
Reduce food waste |
|
Deliver an intervention plan to guide long-term work on household food waste reduction behaviour change |
By 2025 |
Develop with stakeholders the most effective way to implement mandatory public reporting for food waste and surplus by businesses |
By 2025/26 |
Strengthen data and evidence |
Ongoing |
Review the rural exemption for food waste recycling, as part of recycling co-design process |
2024/25 and 2025/26 |
Investigate feasibility of voluntary food waste reduction action plans |
After 2025 |
Deliver enhanced support for businesses |
Ongoing |
Measure (Priority measure in bold) |
Target delivery date |
|---|---|
Embed circular construction practices |
|
Support the development of regional Scottish hubs and networks for the reuse of construction materials and assets |
From 2025, feasibility research in 2024/25 |
Develop new and promote existing best practice standards in circular practices within the construction sector, and assess the options for both voluntary and mandatory compliance |
Ongoing |
Investigate and promote options to incentivise and build capacity for the refurbishment of buildings |
By 2026/27 |
Investigate and promote ways to reduce soil and stones disturbance, movement and volumes going to landfill |
By 2026/27 |
Review opportunities to accelerate adoption of climate change and circular economy focussed purchasing in construction |
From 2024 |
Consider how devolved taxes can incentivise the use of recycled aggregates and support circular economy practices |
Ongoing |
(2) Modernise Recycling
Measure (Priority measure in bold) |
Target delivery date |
|---|---|
Household recycling |
|
Facilitate a co-design process with local government for high quality, high performing household recycling and reuse services |
Across 2024/25 and 2025/26 |
Develop a statutory code of practice for household waste services |
By 2025/26 |
Introduce statutory recycling and reuse local performance targets for household waste services |
From 2030 |
Strengthen Householder’s duty of care in relation to waste |
By 2025/26 |
Give local authorities more tools to support household recycling and reduce contamination |
By 2025/26 |
Undertake a review of waste and recycling service charging |
By 2024/25 |
Review the monitoring and reporting framework for local authority waste services |
By 2025/26 |
Develop options and consult on the introduction of end destination public reporting of household recycling collected |
By 2027/28 |
Measure (Priority measure in bold) |
Target delivery date |
|---|---|
Commercial Recycling |
|
Review of compliance with commercial recycling requirements |
By 2025 |
Co-design measures to improve commercial waste service provisions |
By 2026/27 |
Conduct a national compositional study of waste from commercial premises |
By 2025/26 |
Investigate further steps to promote business-business reuse platforms |
By 2027 |
(3) Decarbonise Disposal
Measure (Priority measure in bold) |
Target delivery date |
|---|---|
Develop and deliver a Residual Waste Plan to 2045 |
Develop by 2025/26 |
Facilitate the development of a Sector-Led Plan to minimise the carbon impacts of the Energy from Waste Sector |
By 2025/26 |
Support the inclusion of energy from waste in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), and investigate other fiscal measures to incentivise low carbon disposal |
From 2028 |
Review and target materials currently landfilled to identify and drive alternative management routes |
From 2024 |
Facilitate the co-production of guidelines for effective community engagement |
Process underway from 2024 |
Increase the capture of landfill gas |
By 2025/26 |
(4) Strengthen the Circular Economy
Measure (Priority measure in bold) |
Target delivery date |
|---|---|
Develop a Circular Economy strategy every five years |
From 2025 onwards |
Set new circular economy targets |
Determined from 2025 |
Review and refresh Scotland’s Waste Data Strategy’s action plan |
Alongside development of circular economy monitoring framework |
Maintain a programme of research on waste prevention, behaviour change, fiscal incentives and material-specific priorities |
Ongoing |
Develop public procurement opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of public spending, including scoping new legislative circular economy requirements for contracting authorities under section 82 and 82A of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 |
Ongoing commissioning research to identify potential candidate products from 2024/25 |
Support greater uptake of green skills, training and development opportunities |
Ongoing |
Contact
Email: ceroutemap@gov.scot
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