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.


Framing

25. This screening assessment seeks to complete the first two stages of the ICIA process by identifying whether there are issues which merit further exploration through research and engagement with island representatives. It also seeks to reflect on the findings and stakeholder feedback from the Route Map's 2024 consultation.

26. If the CEWRM is to achieve its ambitions throughout Scotland, including within island communities, there is an awareness that there may be specific challenges for these communities, which this impact assessment begins to explore.

27. The CEWRM is a strategic document designed to support planning to 2030 and beyond, however we recognise that not all policy measures are fully ready to be implemented in Scotland and are at different stages of development.

28. The CEWRM is focused on identifying strategic aims and associated interventions. The specific policy detail for each of these will not be fully defined at this stage. It is intended that the CEWRM will enable the Scottish Government to articulate a strategic approach which will contribute towards sustainable resource use and circular economy ambitions.

29. The publication of the CEWRM will not directly impact island communities. However, there is potential, once the interventions are implemented that they may have impacts. This Island Communities Screening Assessment is therefore an overview identifying any broad likely impacts by strategic aim and not a detailed assessment of specific interventions.

30. 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. 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. Further, more detailed ICIAs will be carried out where appropriate when individual interventions are designed and developed fully, including further engagement with stakeholders and evidence gathering as required.

31. However, to offer additional insight in the absence of fully developed interventions this document will assess each strategic aim broadly and highlight, where possible, where an impact for an island community compared to the mainland or between island groups may exist – or where there may be differences in terms of expectations, needs, experiences or outcomes.

32. Two of the interventions from the draft CEWRM consultation have already been progressed to date, with associated ICIAs as detailed below:

33. 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 its proposed interventions. The detailed ICIA for this policy did not identify significantly different impacts for island communities but explored issues such as increased costs to consumers and reductions in waste management and cleansing costs. Full details can be seen in the Prohibition of the sale and supply of single-use vapes: ICIA[27].

34. An interim ICIA has been published alongside the Charging for Single-Use Disposable Beverage Cups: Consultation[28]. The accompanying interim ICIA did not identify significantly different impacts for island communities but explored issues such as cost of living, shipping costs and net proceeds from tourists using reusable cups. Full details can be seen in the Single-Use Disposable Beverage Cups Charge: Island Communities Impact Assessment Report: Pre-Consultation Interim Report[29].

35. Alongside the first consultation on the CEWRM proposals to accelerate progress in this area, we also consulted on provisions for a Circular Economy Bill to bring forward primary legislation to underpin our key policy measures. An Islands Communities Screening Assessment was completed for Bill proposals. The Circular Economy Bill[30], became an Act on 8 August 2024 and contains provisions to underpin Scotland's transition to a circular economy and modernise Scotland's waste and recycling services. The Act primarily delivers new powers that set a framework for taking action into the future. The direction and actions set out in this CEWRM are complemented by the provisions in the Act, and in some places are dependent on enabling powers created by the Act.

36. A separate Island Communities Impact Assessment was undertaken and published for the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill in June 2023[31].

Contact

Email: CERouteMap@gov.scot

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