Waste strategy
In 2008, the Scottish Government launched the concept of Zero
Waste, introducing new targets for increasing recycling and
composting rates as well reducing the volume of waste sent to
landfill. The Zero Waste Plan was officially launched on 9th June
2010 and sets out Scottish Government's vision for a zero waste
society. This vision describes a Scotland where all waste is seen
as a resource; waste is minimised; valuable resources are not
disposed of in landfills, and most waste is sorted, leaving only
limited amounts to be treated.
For Perth and Kinross, The Zero Waste Challenge involves a range
of challenging targets for the management of household waste:
- 50% recycling, composting and preparing for reuse by 2013
- 60% recycling, composting and preparing for reuse by 2020
- 70% recycling, composting and preparing for reuse by 2025
In addition, the Plan sets the following targets for all
waste (household, commercial and industrial) collected in
Scotland:
- 70% recycling, composting and preparing for reuse by 2025
- No more than 5% being landfilled by 2025
It also introduces a range of new measures
including:
- Landfill bans for specific waste types
- Restrictions on the input to all energy from waste
facilities
- Measuring the carbon impacts of waste to prioritise the
recycling of resources which offer the greatest environmental and
climate change outcomes
Information on these new targets and the new updated
Scotland wide Zero Waste Plan can be found on the Scottish Government's website.
How we are doing in Perth and Kinross
As a nation, Scotland currently recycles around 34%
of the total waste produced. In Perth and Kinross, for
2009/2010, we achieved a recycling and composting rate of
42%.
A new kerbside recycling service has been launched, more Recycling
Points have been introduced and our Recycling Centres have been
redeveloped to make it even easier to recycle. This has led to
recycling rates rising from 18% in 2002/03 to 42% in 2009/10, and
the amount sent to landfill reducing from 78,890 tonnes in 2002/03
to 54,208 tonnes in 2009/10.
A Perth & Kinross Council Waste Management Plan has been
developed to take account of Scotland's Zero Waste Plan and
provides clear strategic direction for municipal waste management
in Perth and Kinross.
