Circular economy and waste route map to 2030: equality impact assessment

Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) Results Scotland’s Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030.


Title of Policy

Scotland's Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030

Summary of aims and desired outcomes of Policy

1. The Scottish Government is committed to moving towards a circular economy and playing its part to tackle the climate emergency. A circular economy, based on sustainable consumption and production, is essential to power Scotland’s transition to a fair, green and sustainable economy, and critical to meeting our obligations to tackle the twin climate and nature emergencies. Material consumption and waste are primary drivers of nearly every environmental problem Scotland currently faces, from water scarcity to habitat and species loss.

2. Founded on evidence and collaboration, the Circular Economy and Waste Route Map (CEWRM) is part of the Scottish Government’s wider response to these challenges. It is designed to drive progress on three key fronts:

a) Setting the strategic direction and laying foundations for how we will deliver our system-wide, comprehensive vision for Scotland’s circular economy from now to 2030.

b) Setting out priority actions from now to 2030 to accelerate more sustainable use of our resources across the waste hierarchy.

c) Reducing emissions associated with resources and waste.

3. In 2022, the Scottish Government set out a range of proposals across the resources and waste system through its first (CEWRM) consultation[1]. The consultation sought views on the feasibility and ambition of these proposals to drive progress against 2025 waste and recycling targets, look beyond to 2030, and to achieve the long-term goal of net zero by 2045. In April 2023, the analysis[2] of responses to this consultation was published.

4. The second public consultation[3], which ran from 18 January to 15 March 2024, requested feedback on a revised draft CEWRM. This sought to prioritise and focus on the key actions that will unlock progress across the waste hierarchy to 2030 - along with questions on the accompanying suite of impact assessments. The consultation set out further information on specific proposals, noting that each intervention will be fully defined as the measures are developed.

5. In August 2024, the analysis[4] of responses to the second consultation was published. This impact assessment builds on the findings from this analysis and reflects the final CEWRM[5] published in December 2024.

6. The consultation contained 24 questions about the proposals, comprising eight closed and 16 open questions. In total, there were 156 responses to the consultation from individuals (43) and organisations (113).

7. Across the consultation most respondents agreed or strongly agreed with each strategic aim, and respondents provided constructive feedback on the proposals and associated impact assessments. There were consistently high levels of support across the CEWRM’s four strategic aims:

  • 77% agreed with the Reduce and reuse priority actions. 71% agreed with its further actions
  • 76% agreed with both the priority and further actions within Modernise recycling
  • 78% agreed with both the priority and further actions within Decarbonise disposal
  • 76% agreed with the Strengthen the circular economy priority actions. 81% agreed with its further actions

Strategic aims and associated interventions within the CEWRM

8. The CEWRM includes a range of measures that can positively contribute to the delivery of our circular economy and resource objectives and make progress towards net zero goals. Actions have been grouped into four strategic aims, which span action across the waste hierarchy. These are:

A. Reduce and reuse

B. Modernise recycling

C. Decarbonise disposal

D. Strengthen the circular economy

9. To ensure the right structures and support are in place to enable action across the circular economy these strategic aims incorporate a number of specific interventions. Full details of these can be found in Appendix 1.

10. Two interim equality impact assessments (EQIA)[6] [7] were published as part of the Scottish Government’s two consultations on the CEWRM. This final EQIA document expands on those interim EQIAs with findings from the second public consultation.

11. A decision was also taken by Scottish Government to undertake a further deeper analysis to highlight where future outputs resulting from the publication of the final CEWRM may result in impacts to protected characteristic groups. It is recognised however that further assessment will be required as each individual action is fully developed to determine if individual impact assessments will be needed. This is the beginning of this process, rather than the end, and as we move into the implementation phase of the Route Map, the Scottish Government reiterates its commitment to work in partnership with stakeholders to assess the full impacts of specific measures as they are further defined. We recognise that, where appropriate, individual measures set out in the Route Map may be subject to further public consultation, for example where secondary legislation is needed.

12. There were 30 responses in the second consultation to the specific EQIA question – ‘Please provide any further information or evidence that should be considered in the accompanying Equalities Impact Assessment’.

13. The most common feedback, and similar to responses from the first consultation, was the need for ongoing consideration of impacts on protected groups as and when interventions are developed.

14. In particular, people with disabilities, older individuals and those who face language barriers were mentioned throughout the feedback. These groups align with those previously identified through the initial framing workshop and the first consultation.

15. Additionally, it was highlighted by some respondents that interventions which include potential enforcement activity should be designed to be able to take into account individual needs for those with protected characteristics.

Contact

Email: CERouteMap@gov.scot

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