This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scotland urged to tackle waste problem
02/09/2002
People across the country are being urged to help reduce Scotland's growing waste problem through the next phase of the Scottish Executive's 'Do a Little, Change a Lot' awareness campaign.
A five week-long advertising campaign launched today will highlight the small measures that can be taken to turn around the country's poor recycling record.
Minister for Environment and Rural Development Ross Finnie said:
"The throwaway society is unsustainable. For too long we have all been filling our wheelie bins without much thought about where our waste will end up.
"We have to take action to get our waste under control. We have to explain the problems and help the process of change. That is the message the First Minister has taken with him to the World Summit in South Africa.
"We also have to demonstrate that the solutions don't necessarily mean extra hassle for householders. Waste is a big problem, but alongside local authorities, retailers and other action groups we will show that Scotland can and will get to grips with it and shed the image of 'dirty man of Europe'.
"As with other changes we can make in our daily lives doing a little can change a lot."
At present Scotland sends nearly 12 million tonnes of waste to landfill sites every year. Household waste is a particular problem as it contains materials such as food scraps and paper that biodegrade producing methane, a very potent greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change. Currently only 6% of household waste collected by local authorities in Scotland is recycled.
Further details and tips for recycling can be obtained at the 'Do a Little, Change a Lot' website at www.dochange.net
RECYCLING TIPS
* Recycling glass, paper and cans reduces the amount of waste we send to our landfill sites. It also reduces the new material and energy use required to make new products.
* Instead of binning old teabags and vegetable peelings put them on the compost heap. This reduces the total waste sent to landfill.
*Don't forget to print and photocopy double-sided - it can reduce paper use by half .
Promotional activity begins on 2 September with a television advert and selection of national press inserts. Local press will follow throughout the year to coincide with the launch local authority initiatives.
The partnership with retailers and local authorities emphasises the Scottish Executive's commitment to improving Scotland's environment. 'Do a little, Change a Lot' is a three year, £3 million campaign which shows how the small actions we all take can have a big impact on our environment. Partners from the energy and oil industry were the first to join forces with the Executive in 2001 to devise innovative ways of promoting more environmentally-friendly behaviour.
Activity with Safeway includes distribution of leaflets to customers in store, posters supporting waste reduction activity at point of sale, links to and from the Do a Little, Change a Lot website and editorial space in customer magazines.
Activity with Tesco includes recycling messages fitted to shelves in stores, joint promotion of environmental initiatives such as mobile phone recycling and links to and from the Do a Little, Change a Lot website.
The success of 'Do a Little, Change a Lot' is measured on an annual basis. Work for 2002 will commence in mid October with results published on the Scottish Executive website shortly afterwards.
'Do a Little, Change a Lot' has worked closely with local authorities to develop a plan for the dissemination of information at a local level. Plans include joint pr initiatives, campaign branding options for wheelie bins and dustbin lorries and a local information section through the campaign website.