Committee seeks views on how Scotland  should best achieve a circular economy

Cutting waste, increasing recycling and protecting the natural environment. These are some of the suggested benefits of a circular economy, but will a new Bill help make these changes happen? 

The Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill will introduce measures the Scottish Government believes will help Scotland to move towards a circular economy. The Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee wants to know if these proposals will work in practice and whether they are sufficient to achieve that goal. 

According to the Scottish Government, a circular economy would not only cut waste and reduce carbon emissions, but it would increase Scotland’s self-sufficiency and reduce reliance on international supply chains. 

As well as creating a circular economy strategy, the Bill also contains powers to set additional charges for single use items as well as placing new duties on households and local authorities in terms of disposal of household waste and recycling.  

Now the Committee want to hear from people across Scotland about their views of the Bill and whether it really will make a difference in reducing waste in Scotland. 

Committee Convener Edward Mountain MSP said: “The Bill before us has ambitions for creating a circular economy which will protect Scotland’s natural environment and help tackle the climate emergency. 

“But this Bill is wide ranging and will affect individuals, businesses and communities, so it is important to hear these voices to make sure the measures which are proposed work in practice. 

“Covering areas such as household waste, littering and recycling this will affect many aspects of day-to-day life. So, it is vital that as many people as possible get involved in the discussion to help strengthen our scrutiny of the detail in the Bill.”

To provide a detailed response to the Bill – Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill – Scottish Parliament – Citizen Space

To make brief and general comments – https://engage.parliament.scot/group/29745

The Committee’s call for views will be open until Sunday 20 August 2023.