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.
Key Findings
52. No positive or negative impacts have been identified that will result from the publication of the CEWRM itself.
53. However, it is possible that, depending on their design, some of the interventions may have both positive and negative impacts on the following protected characteristics: disability, age, race, sex and pregnancy and maternity.
54. These include, but are not limited to, the following examples set out below, laid out under each of the four strategic aims. In addition to the impacts considered, it is important to note that the protected characteristics considered within this EQIA are not independent of each other. Some people may have to deal with complex and interconnected issues.
A. Reduce and reuse
55. Evidence suggests that on average, disabled people face extra costs of £583/month.[14] This may mean that any increase in the cost of living is more challenging to manage and should be carefully considered when relevant measures are developed that could impact on the costs and availability of goods.
56. For example, the measure to ‘Develop measures to address the disposal of unsold consumer goods’ could reduce access to lower cost goods as a result of any future measures which constitute part of the product stewardship plans, including restrictions, charges or producer responsibility. However, the measure could also result in the opportunity for consumers to purchase high quality goods at potentially lower prices when sold through secondary markets.
57. Two of the measures mentioned under this strategic aim have already been consulted on, and therefore have their own individual impact assessments. These are:
- Develop further measures to tackle consumption of problematic single use items and promote uptake of reusable alternatives (including consideration of environmental charging), prioritising action on single-use drinks cups.
- The second CEWRM included the action to consult on actions regarding the environmental impacts of single-use vapes. This has been updated in the final CEWRM to reflect the action taken to ban the sale and supply of single-use vapes from 2025.
58. An interim EQIA[15] has been published alongside the Charging for Single-Use Disposable Beverage Cups Consultation. The interim EQIA identifies likely impacts for some Disabled individuals, and further identifies potential impacts under the Age and Race characteristic groups in terms of accessible and appropriate communications.
59. The four UK governments are introducing legislation to ban/prohibit the sale and supply of single-use vapes. While this has not been a direct result of the CEWRM, it does fulfil one of the additional measures from the second consultation. The vapes EQIA[16] identified a number of the same protected characteristic groups as the interim EQIAs for the CEWRM, namely Age (both older and younger individuals) and Disabled individuals. Full details can be seen online. It also identified potential positive impacts for Age with regards to reduced littering. This may be more significant for younger people (16-24) whose perceptions of their area are more likely to be negatively impacted by littering.[17] This finding aligns with a similar finding in the single-use cups EQIA.
60. Measures under this aim related to ‘Develop measures to improve the reuse experience for consumers’ and ‘Deliver behaviour change-based approaches focused on sustainable consumption, aligned to Let’s Do Net Zero communications’ provide positive impacts with regards to improved communications with clear and inclusive research outputs as the measures are developed and introduced.
61. Further positive impacts may result from the action ‘Review the rural exemption for food waste recycling, as part of the co-design process’. This has the potential to widen where household food collections are offered, making it easier for households to recycle more, and reduce reliance on residual waste bins.
62. It is recognised that further EQIAs may be required alongside the development of specific measures, as deemed appropriate. For example, work around product stewardship measures, or the development of specific interventions that may form part of the intervention plan to guide long-term work on household food waste reduction behaviour change.
B. Modernise recycling
63. Development of measures, such as the ‘Co-design process for household recycling and reuse services’ and the ‘Review of waste and recycling service charging’ may impact individuals under all of the identified characteristic groups. For example, evidence[18] suggests that household expenditure varies with the age of the head of household, peaking when the head of household is in their 30s and 40s. This could mean that these households produce more waste and are impacted more by service delivery or charging changes. Conversely, they may also benefit from a greater range or accessibility of recycling and reuse services available. [19]
64. Consideration will need to be given to, in particular, disabled and older individuals when developing measures which impact on household waste and recycling services. Service design for kerbside collections will need to be developed with accessibility, ease of use, clear user instructions, provision of alternative options and additional support in mind.
65. Specific measures which will require such considerations are: ‘Facilitate a co-design process for high quality, high performing household recycling and reuse services’; ‘Introduce a statutory Code of Practice for household waste services’; ‘Introduce statutory recycling and reuse local performance targets for household waste services’; ‘Strengthen the Householder’s duty of care obligation in relation to waste’ and ‘Give local authorities more tools to support household recycling and reduce contamination’.
66. Consideration of the need to provide accessible and inclusive 19 communications on any changes to recycling collections, new householder duties or any enforcement action will also be needed. For example, where English is not a first language (Race), for older individuals (Age) who may require large print, or for Disabled individuals who may require Braille or other suitable communication options.
67. Conversely, positive impacts across all of the protected characteristic groups may be realised by the production of new, clearly designed, consistent and inclusive communications. This will include information on local and national recycling provision and any duties householders will be expected to fulfil through the Householder duty of care. In particular this is applicable to the following measures: ‘Strengthen Householder’s duty of care obligation in relation to waste’; ‘Give local authorities more tools to support household recycling and reduce contamination’ and ‘Review of waste and recycling service charging’.
68. Positive impacts are also likely through improved design of recycling services as part of the action ‘Facilitate a co-design process for high quality, high performing household recycling and reuse services’.
69. Where interventions seek to improve waste and recycling services to households, they will likely offer benefits across society including all protected characteristic groups. This includes better access to recycling provision for all households, and where necessary, the ability for councils to implement, for example, assisted lifts and excess capacity on a case-by-case basis.
70. The co-design process for high quality, high performing household recycling and reuse services will build in requirements for wide stakeholder engagement. This will ensure that the needs of residents who require additional support to fully utilise council waste services are considered, and enable solutions to be appropriately designed and delivered across Scotland as necessary. The co-design will take into account the different geographical and community needs that local authorities and residents across Scotland encounter, addressing concerns raised in consultation responses about presenting an unsuitable 'one-size-fits-all' approach.
71. Where any improvements to services or increased enforcement result in reduced littering, it is likely there will be benefits, in particular for younger people (Age).[20]
C. Decarbonise disposal
72. The measure to ‘Facilitate the co-production of guidelines for effective community engagement’ should be considered with accessible and inclusive communication in mind to ensure high levels of participation and understanding of any community engagement outputs. This will help to ensure positive experience and outcomes for everyone.
73. Further impact assessments may be required for the other measures in this strategic aim, as deemed appropriate; for example for specific measures developed as part of the Residual Waste Plan and the Sector-Led Plan to minimise the carbon impacts of the Energy from Waste Sector.
D. Strengthen the circular economy
74. There is potential for the measures that sit under this aim to impact across the protected characteristics group. It is likely that the circular economy strategy will include measures that will touch across the protected characteristics. As with many of the other individual measures the strategy will be subject to a full impact assessment process.
75. The introduction of new circular economy targets, including potential reuse targets, has the potential to provide benefits across society. Such benefits may include the ability for individuals to have access to repair provision for items rather than purchasing new, and increased availability of pre-used items available at lower costs compared to purchasing new.
76. The measure to support greater uptake of green skills, training and development opportunities has the potential for positive impacts.[21] While this will be across all society, it may in particular provide additional opportunities for individuals with physical or mental health conditions, particularly where aligned with the Just Transition Fair Work Action Plan.[22] It may also offer opportunities for young adults, and equally for older individuals who remain in the workforce. This includes retraining skills as part of a Just Transition[23] as workers move from sectors that are attempting to decarbonise.
77. The measure to maintain a programme of research on waste prevention, behaviour change, fiscal incentives and material-specific priorities provides an opportunity to gather further information on accessibility and inclusion challenges and opportunities for implementation.
Contact
Email: CERouteMap@gov.scot
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