Introduction
The Scottish Government is committed to moving towards a Zero Waste Scotland. This will help to ensure we use resources properly. It will also help combat climate change.
This consultation seeks views on proposed primary legislation to help implement Zero Waste. None of the proposed measures would take effect until secondary legislation - regulations - are made. There will be full consultation on any such regulations before they are enacted.
Up until now, most waste legislation in Scotland has been designed to prevent pollution and protect animal health. Annex B to this consultation gives a brief summary of existing legislation. The new proposals contained in this consultation focus on the resource implications of waste and seek to encourage waste reduction and recycling. The proposals come from a variety of sources: experience in other countries; existing voluntary work and the Zero Waste Think Tank. They have been informed by discussions with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
Details of how to respond to this consultation are contained in Annex E.
The Scottish Government recognises that other secondary legislation, using existing powers, may help to implement zero waste. For example, the Government has been considering whether regulations could be made, using existing powers under the Pollution, Prevention and Control Act, to ban more materials from going to landfill. Work in this area will be taken forward as part of the forthcoming review of the National Waste Plan for Scotland and does not form part of this consultation.