Circular economy and waste route map to 2030: island communities screening assessment

Island Communities Screening Assessment (ICIA) for Scotland's Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030.


Island Communities Screening Assessment

Scotland's Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030

Policy Aim

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 the first CEWRM consultation[1]. The consultation sought views on the feasibility and ambition of these proposals to drive progress against circular economy, waste and recycling goals to 2025, looking 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 and final 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 published in December 2024[5].

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

Contact

Email: CERouteMap@gov.scot

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