This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Moves towards 25 per cent recycling target
07/10/2002
A £2 million, three-year funding package will help businesses meet the target of recycling 25 per cent of household waste by 2006, the Scottish Waste Strategy Advisory Group (SWSAG) was told today.
Environment Minister Ross Finnie said the money was a "very important" part of the £170 million outlined in September's Scottish budget for waste management over the next three years.
It will assist businesses investing in new recycling or reprocessing facilities, such as initiatives to reprocess paper and glass.
SWSAG was set up in July to provide a forum to assist in implementing the National Waste Strategy. The group includes members of local authorities, SEPA, CBI Scotland and community groups.
Mr Finnie said:
"The drive to recycle waste can only succeed if we can find ways to create new markets and higher value uses for recycled materials.
"There is no point in local authorities or businesses carrying out recycling if there is no use which can be made of the materials produced from recycling. Our commitment throughout the Scottish budget was to deliver opportunity and growth. The money we have announced today will help businesses identify new opportunities to exploit recycled products and increase demand for them.
"The Executive sees recycling as a key element in the implementation of Scotland's National Waste Strategy. The development of markets for recycled products and materials in Scotland will be critical to the success of local authorities in implementing Area Waste Plans.
"I want to ensure that grants are targeted at those businesses which will make a difference in Scotland and help us to deliver our ambitious target on recycling into a reality."
The Executive will be discussing details of how the grant scheme will operate with organisations working to encourage the development of recycled markets.
It is intended that a study will be commissioned in the next few months to advise on the detail of the scheme, how it should be operated and targeted.
The key agencies involved are Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), REMADE Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.