Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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Funding announced to increase recycling rate in Scotland
Speaking at the Scottish Waste & Resources Conference in Glasgow recently, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead announced an additional £1.2 million of funding would be available to help councils in Scotland reach the 50% recycling target set for the end of 2013.
The funding will be available immediately and until April 2013 to help councils meet their target commitments and specifically to fund improvements to Household Waste Recycling Centres and for increasing collections of glass from households. The funds will be administered by Zero Waste Scotland, the Scottish Government's delivery partner.
This funding is in addition to £5 million already made available through Zero Waste Scotland this year to support household food waste collections and will help councils move from the present average recycling rate of 41% to the 50% target next year.
"Our vision for zero waste is a long-term ambition - but getting to the point where the majority of our household waste is recycled will be a major milestone, especially considering that before devolution our recycling rate was just 5%," said Richard Lochhead.
"We are making funds available to councils to help them meet our ambition. Councils have made huge progress. Seven have already hit the challenging 50% recycling target by adopting a 'can do' approach. We encourage all councils to work with Zero Waste Scotland and take advantage of this targeted additional investment to help them make further progress.
"But this is also about a much bigger prize. It is about keeping valuable materials circulating in our economy so we can create jobs and business opportunities here in Scotland."
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management has already welcomed the strong lead shown by the Scottish Government through legislation passed in the Spring. It clearly shows to the waste and resources industry the long term commitment of the Government to set policies to shift away from landfill towards more resource efficient ways to deal with wastes.
"The CIWM is delighted that the Minister has made this commitment and offered this financial support above and beyond monies already announced," says Duncan Simpson, Chairman of the CIWM Scottish Centre. "A lot has been achieved by our sector, waste professionals and the public, to date but we all have bigger challenges ahead and the continued support of the Scottish government is greatly appreciated. We are further delighted by the fact that the minister has chosen Scottish Waste and Resources event to make the announcement."
The CIWM is the leading professional body for the waste management sector representing over 7000 individuals in the UK and overseas. Established in 1898, it is a non profit-making organisation, dedicated to the promotion of professional competence amongst waste managers. CIWM seeks to raise standards for those working in and with the sector by producing best practice guidance, developing educational and training initiatives, and providing information on key waste-related issues.
T: 01698 897 521
E: [email protected]
W: www.ciwm.co.uk
11th October 2012