Strengthening approach to household recycling collection services: consultation analysis

5. Conclusions

A range of individuals and organisations with varied knowledge and experiences responded to the consultation, sharing their views on potential changes to textile recycling and the rural food waste exemption. This report provides a high-level summary of the consultation responses. For more details, readers are encouraged to read individual responses, where permission was given for publication, via the Scottish Government’s consultation website.

The proposals presented in the consultation often received mixed reactions from respondents. While 61% of respondents felt that kerbside collection of textiles would benefit households, only 37% supported a proposed household collection service provided by local authorities.

Fewer respondents answered questions about the rural food waste exemption, and only half of those who did were located in an area that is currently exempt. However, views were similarly divided on the future of the rural food waste exemption, with 32% of those answering preferring to keep it as it is, 34% preferring to remove it, and 34% making other suggestions, such as amending the rural classification which was detailed by respondents in their qualitative responses.

While support for the proposals was mixed, respondents raised similar concerns about both proposals throughout their responses. These included concerns about the negative financial impact of the proposals on local authorities, with both individuals and organisations questioning whether increased costs for waste collection and recycling may have a knock-on effect on other local authority services. There was also concern about the lack of infrastructure available to recycle textiles and process food waste, particularly in rural and island communities.

Another concern, specifically related to textile recycling, was the potential negative impact that household collection could have on charity shops and reuse and resale organisations. Respondents highlighted that the proposals could impact these organisations' ability to raise funds, have negative consequences on the circular economy by diverting waste from reuse to recycling, and affect people who use charity shops for lower-cost textiles.

However, negative impacts on the groups highlighted in the consultation—people with protected characteristics, businesses or the business sector, children, and island communities—were thought to be minimal. Some respondents highlighted positive impacts on the environment throughout the consultation.

By exploring how waste services are currently used, the consultation allowed respondents to describe a range of both positive and negative impacts of changes to textile recycling and the rural food waste exemption. The responses provide valuable evidence and insight that the Scottish Government can use when undertaking any next steps to develop the proposals. Based on the responses, this could include further engagement with stakeholders, collecting additional information about the practical and financial implications of the proposed changes, particularly on the reuse and resale sector and local authorities, and updating impact assessments with relevant evidence provided by respondents.

The Scottish Government has already indicated that further engagement and consideration of these matters will be taken forward through the co-design of the new household recycling Code of Practice.