Entries are now open for VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards, and companies across Scotland of all sizes with a green ethos that have demonstrated significant business benefits from good environmental practice are being encouraged to enter.
The VIBES – Scottish Environment Business Awards are a partnership between the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), The Scottish Government, Energy Saving Trust, Highland & Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise, Scottish Water, Zero Waste Scotland and NatureScot.
This year’s award categories include: Leadership Scotland, Innovating Scotland, Product Scotland, Service Scotland, Hydro Nation Scotland, Circular Scotland, Moving Scotland, Adapting Scotland, Engaging Scotland, Partnership Scotland, Small Business Scotland.
Businesses in Scotland have already felt the impact of the risks associated with climate change, and food producers and whisky distillers were faced with water scarcity last summer furthering the drive for positive and radical environmental action.
Organisations are being encouraged to follow the example of firms such as Vegware and Paterson Arran Ltd. who have shown that environmental best practice can also bring economic benefits including financial savings, an engaged workforce, positive working culture and improved competitiveness as well as contributing towards a better economy and society as a whole.
Since its inception in 1999, the VIBES Scottish Business Awards, have recognised and rewarded businesses that have championed sustainability by identifying ways to tackle the impact on the planet by reducing consumption on its resources.
This has included everything from increasing recycling and facilitating active travel to reducing consumption of raw materials by adopting a more circular approach.
Bob Downes, chair of SEPA and head of the VIBES judging panel, said: “Scotland is a leader in climate change action and successful businesses recognise the economic benefit from driving environmental innovation and best practice.
“Every business in the country has a role to play in leading Scotland to Net Zero. The VIBES awards recognise those businesses that are developing sustainable solutions and helping to achieve net zero of all greenhouse gases by 2045.
“We are looking for entries from businesses who are taking the lead in the transition to a net zero emissions economy through innovation, partnerships, circular economy, adaptation and a commitment to making the environment a key factor in decision making.
“These creative and pioneering organisations will be those who champion best practice and create sustainable goods, products and services through leadership, innovation and ambition, making a positive environmental impact protecting our plant for future generations.”
Scottish chefs serve up food waste-busting recipes in Zero Waste Scotland talent competition
Search to find Scotland’s best dish made from commonly-wasted foods launched to mark Food Waste Action Week (7-13 March)
Competition comes as 24% of food and drink businesses in Scotland recognise food waste as a significant contributor to climate change
Cooks across the country, from hotels and restaurants to colleges and community groups, encouraged to take part
BBC MasterChef winner Gary Maclean among culinary experts judging entrants
A survey, released today, shows just 24 per cent of food and drink businesses in Scotland think food waste is a significant contributor to climate change1. That’s despite Scotland, as a whole, wasting 988,000 tonnes of food and drink every year2.
In response, Zero Waste Scotland has launched a nationwide challenge to crown Scotland’s culinary champion of food waste – a single professional or business whose recipe can turn what could have gone to waste into delectable treasure.
The search for Scotland’s best waste-less scran was launched at the beginning of Food Waste Action Week (7 – 13 March). It will see cooks across Scotland enter their best recipes that primarily feature ingredients commonly wasted in kitchens, such as bread, or use up the parts of food items that people don’t usually eat, for example, broccoli stalks.
Food Waste Action Week is an annual campaign led by Love Food Hate Waste and WRAP to raise awareness of the devastating impact that food waste has on the planet.
The competition to find the most delicious way to tackle food waste will see Zero Waste Scotland challenge food and drink professionals to rustle up their best no-or-low waste recipes: from chefs in top restaurants, to Scotland’s hospitals and schools; and food manufacturers, right through to cooks in community groups.
The winner will be selected from a list of entrants who have met the criteria of simplicity, taste, time, ingredient use, and ingenuity.
BBC MasterChef champion and Scotland’s National Chef, Gary Maclean, will be lending his culinary expertise as part of the judging panel. This will be the latest partnership between Maclean and Zero Waste Scotland following their collaborative campaign to raise awareness of food waste during the festive season.
The competition’s top chef will then win a bespoke prize package from Zero Waste Scotland. This will include hands-on support to further reduce food waste and become more resource efficient, as well as promotion of their environmental initiatives.
To compete, entrants should visit the dedicated competition page on the Zero Waste Scotland website to download a submission template which can then be sent to food.drink@zerowastescotland.org.uk. Entrants must check the full criteria before applying. The competition closes on the 1st of September 2022.
“We know many food and drink businesses in Scotland are already doing their bit, with our research indicating 43 per cent rank reducing food waste as one of their top priorities. However, we also know only 14 per cent consider food waste every day. We’re calling on expert chefs to show off their planet-saving recipes and showcase their commitment to tackling the climate emergency.
“Businesses will benefit greatly from reducing food waste, both sustainably and financially, and with over 80 percent of the UK population concerned about climate change getting involved in Food Waste Action Week is a great way to show customers, clients and employees that you and your business share their values.”
According to research from WRAP, the top four most wasted ingredients in the hospitality and food service sector include potatoes, bread, pasta and rice.
An estimated 1.3 billion tonnes of food are wasted globally every year, roughly one third of all that is produced for human consumption3.
When food is wasted, all the energy and resources that went into producing, processing, transporting and cooking it also goes to waste. This is why food waste is so dangerous for the climate. Businesses also lose the money they spent – meaning that they are less efficient and less competitive.
On top of this, if food waste then ends up in landfill, it generates even more emissions in the form of methane, a gas many times more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide.
Gary Maclean, Scotland’s National Chef, said:“Scotland is world renowned for its delicious, first-rate food and drink. But if we’re serious about our reputation as a hotspot for top-notch cuisine, then we must urgently stop perfectly edible food from going to waste. In a post-COP26 landscape, the food sector now has a golden opportunity to prove its environmental credentials too.
“I think it’s extremely important for trainee chefs to embrace food waste reduction from the get-go. As a professional, fully understanding where your food comes from, and the energy and resources it takes to get it onto the plate, is crucial. So, there’s every reason to make sure none of it is wasted.
“The bottom line is that everyone in the food sector in Scotland has a lot to gain from reducing their food waste. There are potential savings in-store, plus a new market of eco-conscious customers, so I’d encourage all to apply to Zero Waste Scotland’s competition.”
Zero Waste Scotland operates a dedicated Food Waste Reduction Business Support service to help businesses in Scotland identify how, and how much, they could save by reducing food waste. Almost 280 businesses have already benefited from the support, with typical cost savings of £5,000 a year.
Zero Waste Scotland offers consultations delivering bespoke opportunity assessments, staff training to help implement behaviour changes and the ‘Target, Measure, Act’ programme which helps businesses to set their own targets and deliver against environmental goals.
Scotland is being urged to bin all wipes – and ban wipes containing plastic – in a major new campaign to help protect the environment.
Scottish Water is asking the public to join forces to avoid sewer blockages, flooding, and pollution by consigning wipes to the bin.
And it is also calling on governments north and south of the border to work together to ban wipes made with plastic.
The new nationwide campaign – Nature Calls – is backed by a range of other organisations, including the Marine Conservation Society, Keep Scotland Beautiful and Zero Waste Scotland.
Join The Wave
Help us reduce the impact of wipes containing plastic by backing our ban.
Douglas Millican, Scottish Water Chief Executive, said: “Our message to our customers is clear: please bin the wipes and help us protect the environment.
“And to policymakers we say now is the time to ban all wipes containing plastic and rid our sewers, rivers and beaches of this needless problem. Last year, more than 10,000 tonnes of material – the equivalent of 80 blue whales – was removed from Scotland’s waste water plants.
“Many thousands of tonnes more ended up blocking sewers, causing flooding, or being flushed into rivers during storms and heavy rain. Research by the Marine Conservation Society shows that wipes are now the most common cause of beach pollution.
“Wipes are an understandable convenience item – but many contain plastic, that cause serious problems when disposed of inappropriately by flushing down the toilet – blocked sewers, homes flooded with sewage, and pollution on our beaches and rivers.
“Every year our teams deal with around 36,000 blockages at a cost to customers of £7 million annually and around 80 per cent of the blockages we attend feature wipes. Members of the public, communities, campaigners, manufacturers, retailers and governments must all work together to do the right thing for nature now and for generations to come.”
The Nature Calls campaign was launched at Cramond this morning supported by Scottish Water volunteers taking part in a beach clean.
The campaign will feature adverts on multiple channels through February and March.
Environment Minister Mairi McAllan said: “The actions we take at home can help protect Scotland’s world-renowned rivers, lochs, wetlands and seas.
“Flushing inappropriate items contributes to serious blockages in our sewers, unsightly debris in our rivers and can cause great harm to our marine environment; by being aware of this and changing our habits we can all help protect our precious, rivers seas and wildlife.
“Every year, hundreds of millions of pieces of single-use plastic are wasted in this country – they litter our coasts, pollute our oceans and contribute to the climate emergency. Scotland was the first country in the UK to ban plastic-stemmed cotton buds and we have taken action to place market restrictions on plastic microbeads.
“We are pursuing proposals to ban some of the most problematic single-use plastic items, such as straws and plastic cutlery, subject to the impact of the UK Internal Market Act 2020.
“We support the calls to ban wet wipes containing plastic and encourage the UK Government and other administrations to work with us to bring forward bans on unnecessary and environmentally harmful products.”
A wide range of organisations have voiced support for Nature Calls.
Catherine Gemmell, Scotland Conservation Officer for the Marine Conservation Society, said: “A staggering 30,000 wet wipes have been picked up by our volunteers right here on Cramond beach over the last five years. It’s not just a problem here though. At last year’s Great British Beach Clean we found an average of 25 wet wipes for every 100m of Scottish beach surveyed.
“Our toilets can still sadly be gateways to the ocean which is why incorrectly flushed items like plastic wet wipes can be found on beaches across Scotland. We need to stop plastic items, like wet wipes, getting into the sewer system and out in the ocean.
“That’s why we’re supporting the Nature Calls campaign to ban plastic wet wipes and help reduce the number of wipes mis-flushed. Show your support for wet wipe free beaches and seas by supporting the campaign too!”
Keep Scotland Beautiful Chief Executive Barry Fisher said: “I’m delighted to see Scottish Water highlighting this important issue, encouraging everyone to be more conscious of the environmental impact of plastic wipes.
“We want doing the right thing for our environment to be easy and possible for everyone – including manufacturers finding affordable alternatives to plastic free wipes. This will make sure that industry contributes to the future without wipes that clog up our waterways and oceans, harming wildlife and permanently changing our environment.
“Scotland is facing a climate and litter emergency, so action to find affordable solutions to plastic free wipes is needed to protect the future of our country. This campaign will help industry and individuals to understand that their actions can and do make a difference.”
Zero Waste Scotland Chief Executive Iain Gulland said: “It is great to see campaigns like this become more prominent in tackling the urgent problem of single-use items. At Zero Waste Scotland, we understand just how important it is to ban single-use plastic – and single-use items in general.
“We champion more sustainable ways of operating, which is why we love to see efforts, like Nature Calls from Scottish Water, grabbing attention and encouraging us all to think about our throw-away culture. Each time we choose to reuse we are one step closer to a more circular economy that will help alleviate Scotland’s contribution to the climate crisis.”
Simon Jones, Director of Environment and Visitor Services at Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, said: “Our lochs and rivers are a crucial part of what makes the National Park, and Scotland, such a special place. Not only beautiful to look at and enjoy, but these water bodies are also vital wildlife habitats and keeping them as healthy as possible helps us tackle both the climate and nature crises.
“Sadly, wipes can get into these water bodies causing harm to water quality, wildlife, and their beauty. We consider them a form of pollution and therefore we are supporting the call for wipes containing plastic to be banned and urge everyone to do their bit by never flushing wipes.”
Lang Banks, Director, WWF Scotland, said: “At every step in its lifecycle, even long after it has been discarded, plastic causes harm to wildlife and contributes to the climate crisis we’re facing today.
“If we’re to stop climate change and eliminate plastic pollution from our oceans, we need to rapidly phase out unnecessary single-use plastics and that includes a ban on wipes made with plastic.”
David Field, CEO of the Royal Zoological Society Scotland, said: “At RZSS we’re inspiring and enabling our visitors and communities to do their bit to protect our planet and the wildlife we share it with. We want to make it as easy as possible to be a champion for nature.
“We’re supporting the Nature Calls campaign because one of the simplest actions we can each take is to stop putting wet wipes and plastic products down our drains and we agree that wipes containing plastic should be banned.
“Not only does flushing these items cause flooding and pollution as they block and break pipes, but they end up littering our beaches and oceans and killing wildlife.”
Research from the Marine Conservation Society found an average of 262 plastic and polystyrene pieces for every 100m of Portobello beach
St Andrew’s Takeaway is currently using an estimated 10,800 disposable food containers a month. Over a year, this would have the same carbon cost as a return flight from Edinburgh to New York
If five percent of their customers switched to reusable food containers, it would save 100kg of carbon dioxide equivalent a year
Zero Waste Scotland has launched the first wave of its Ditching Disposables pilot, which will help a number of Scottish businesses to reduce and eliminate their reliance on single-use items.
The drive coincides with the recent announcement from the Scottish Government that they will ban a wide range of single-use plastics items from June 2022.
The new regulations include restrictions on plastic cutlery, drink stirrers, and food containers made from expanded polystyrene – items predominately found in cafes and hospitality businesses.
The legislation covers these plastic items made from both fossil-based and plant-based plastics regardless of whether they are recyclable, biodegradable or compostable. It also covers plastic items which contain recycled content.
In line with recommendations of the Expert Panel on Environmental Charges and Other Measures, the Ditching Disposables project will support organisations across Scotland to trial and implement sustainable alternatives to problematic single-use items. A common mistake, which businesses must avoid where possible, is to replace one disposable option with another one made from a different material.
This is why Zero Waste Scotland is embarking on a collaborative campaign to guide businesses on alternative and environmentally friendly solutions, such as swapping single-use plastic stirrers with reusablemetal spoons rather than wooden ones, which also end up in the bin after one use.
The Ditching Disposables pilot is also a pivotal step towards the creation of a first-of-its-kind roadmap – a guide that will equip businesses across the world with the necessary tools and knowledge, using data collated from successful interventions found through the initiative.
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive at Zero Waste Scotland, said:“We’ve all seen those pictures and videos of horrendous litter pollution strewn across land and sea. Waste, predominately made up of single-use items, is persistently causing harm to the environment in Scotland as well as the rest of the world.
“Right now, we live in a throwaway society, and we urgently need to move away from disposables completely. Our Ditching Disposables pilot is a huge step towards this goal.
“We’re working directly with business owners and their customers, at the ground level, to give them the right tools to find alternatives to disposables. We’re confident this pilot will help them to feel like they’re doing their vital part in reducing the amount of waste we produce.
“At COP26, Scotland proved it’s a world-leader when it comes to sustainability, and this pioneering project will further cement this status and form part of its legacy.”
Welcoming the pilot project, Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater said: “There is no longer any doubt that plastic waste is having a hugely damaging impact on our oceans, environment and climate.
“The Scottish Government supports a move away from the old-fashioned and environmentally destructive consumption model of take, make and consume.
“Lessons from this trial will be crucial in our efforts to reduce our reliance on single-use plastic and in our journey towards a circular economy that promotes re-use, repair and recycling.”
Take-out fish and chips for a stroll in the beach often come in wax-coated paper boxes, which have a carbon impact and cannot be easily recycled.
However, many food outlets use them. St Andrew’s Takeaway is currently trialling innovative alternatives but, in the meantime, uses an estimated 10,800 disposable food containers a month.
Over a year, this would have the same carbon cost as a return flight from Edinburgh to New York. If five percent of their customers switched to reusable food containers, it would save 100kg of carbon dioxide equivalent a year.
Businesses in Portobello and Joppa already signed up to take part in the Ditching Disposables pilot include Malvarosa, Go Go Beets, Oscar’s Gelato, The Boathouse, St Andrews Restaurant & Takeaway and ShrimpWreck.
They’ll trial a series of initiatives including a deposit scheme for reusable containers, a charge for single-use items and edible spoons for ice cream.
Alvaro Bernabeu, Owner of Malvarosa restaurant, said:“I don’t see sustainability as a trend but the way forward. As a small business, we’re doing what we can and want to play a part in changing attitudes.
“The recent ban on problematic single-use items by the Scottish Government is a very welcome step, but there isn’t enough guidance available to businesses on what is the most environmentally friendly alternative. I see this pilot as a really worthwhile exercise and I’m sure it’ll be very welcome by my customers.”
The Ditching Disposables initiative will be supported by a regionalised social media campaign, featuring striking imagery of plastic waste on Portobello Beach, and using the hashtag #DitchingDisposables.
The campaign originally made headlines when announced in early 2020 with support from the Scottish Government – being hailed as an important step towards banishing polluting single-use items for good. However, it had to be paused due to businesses closing in line with lockdown restrictions.
Catherine Gemmell, Scotland Conservation Officer for the Marine Conservation Society, said:“The Ditching Disposables campaign is a fantastic opportunity to give Scotland a glimpse into what having a circular economy would look like and the massive benefits across society it would bring.
“By moving to reuse, repair and refill our volunteers would start to see less plastic on our beaches which would save wildlife, keep Scotland stunning and reduce our carbon footprint.”
Fines for flytipping could be more than doubled as part of proposals being consulted on.
The consultation on a new National Litter and Flytipping Strategy proposes a range of measures to prevent litter and flytipping, improve data and strengthen enforcement.
This includes raising fines for flytipping from £200 to £500 – the maximum permitted by current legislation. The consultation also asks if they should be raised beyond this cap.
The introduction of a sustained national behaviour change campaign is also being proposed, aimed at breaking the cycle of littering and flytipping. This would be supported by new research, looking at why people continue to litter.
Launching the consultation, Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater said: “We want a Scotland that is free of the blight of litter and flytipping. That’s why we’re asking for views on a bold set of measures that could help make our streets, parks and public spaces free of rubbish.
“Litter and flytipping are not just a blight on local communities – they also cost millions of pounds every year in clean-up costs. We need to send a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated.
“We also need to understand why anti-litter measures are still not reaching some people. To address that, we are proposing not just a one off campaign, but a sustained push, backed by new research into why people litter.
“We also want to make better use of data to clamp down on illegal dumping. By understanding more about where and when flytipping takes place, we can be more effective in targeting interventions to stop it.”
Proposals include the increased and improved use of data to locate and target litter and flytipping hotspots. The creation of a national flytipping forum, chaired by the Circular Economy Minister, will also bring together key stakeholders in Scotland to discuss how to implement the new strategy and share best practice and insights relating to tackling flytipping.
Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Terry A’Hearn, said: “Fly-tipping is not only immoral, it is illegal and waste crime poses a risk not only to human health and the environment, but also to urban and rural businesses, and communities.
“Waste dumped illegally in laybys, rural locations or holes in the ground, instead of being disposed of in the correct manner, means criminals are avoiding having to pay the costs a legal operator has to pay.
“Tackling waste crime is a priority for SEPA, and the information collected from this consultation could mean better sharing and co-ordination of flytipping data between us and partners, helping us manage our responses better.”
Chief Executive Officer of Zero Waste Scotland, Iain Gulland, said: “Litter and flytipping are illegal, dangerous, and entirely avoidable. In fact, half of all litter could have been recycled.
“The impact is more than the staggering clean-up costs – recklessly dumping items is damaging to our wildlife and communities. But despite tremendous efforts, it’s still a national issue.
“To tackle it, we need new ideas, new approaches and new collaborations, which is why Zero Waste Scotland implores everyone to take part in this public consultation.”
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) statisticians have published Official Statistics which provide detail of Household Waste collected across all Local Authorities during 2020, as well as waste landfilled and incinerated in Scotland in 2020.
COVID impacts likely to be responsible for a 2.9 percentage point reduction in household recycling rates from 2019 to 42%
Household waste generated increased 0.3% to 2.4 million tonnes
Scottish household waste landfilled reduced by 13.0% to 660,000 tonnes
Carbon impact of household waste down 1.3 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent from 2011
Reduction of all waste landfilled in Scottish by 13.0% to 2.6 million tonnes
Increase of all waste incinerated in Scotland by 3.1% to 1.26 million tonnes
Household waste recycled and landfilled decreases
Scotland’s overall household waste recycling rate reduced from 44.9% to 42% from 2019, and 2.5 percentage points up from the 39.5% achieved in 2011. It is likely that COVID-19 impacts are the main driver behind this reduction. The total amount of Scottish household waste recycled was 1.02 million tonnes, a decrease of 66,000 tonnes (6.1%) from 2019.
There was a reduction in the amount of some waste materials recycled, such as construction and soils (reduction of 26,000 tonnes, 14.8%) and composting of vegetal wastes (reduction of 17,000 tonnes, 5.7%), while there was an increase in the amount of other waste materials recycled, such as such as glass wastes (15,000 tonnes, 14.4%) and plastic wastes (8.3%, 5,000 tonnes).
The amount of Scottish household waste landfilled in 2020 was 660,000 tonnes, a reduction of 98,000 tonnes (13.0%) from 2019, and a reduction 794,000 tonnes (54.6%) from 2011. This is the ninth consecutive decrease in household waste landfilled. This decrease is primarily due to more waste being diverted from landfill to incineration and in part less waste being generated.
For 2020, the total amount of Scottish household waste managed by other diversion from landfill was 748,000 tonnes, an increase of 171,000 tonnes (29.7%) from 2019 and an increase of 625,000 tonnes (508%) from 2011. This includes waste incinerated, incinerator outputs recycled, and organic material recycled that does not meet quality standards.
2020 data reflects a continued downward trajectory since 2011 in Scotland’s household waste carbon impact. The carbon impact of Scottish household waste generated and managed in 2020 was 5.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (TCO2e), which is the equivalent to 1.00 TCO2e per person.
This was a decrease of 225,000 TCO2e from 2019, and a reduction of 1.33 million TCO2e since 2011. This is largely due to increased recycling for high impact waste materials as well as reductions in waste generated and reduced landfilling of biodegradable waste.
Waste landfilled in Scotland sees continued reduction
The total quantity of waste landfilled in Scotland in 2020 was 2.6 million tonnes, a reduction of 390,000 tonnes (13.0%) from 2019 and a reduction of 4.4 million tonnes (62.9%) from 2005. This is the ninth consecutive reduction in waste landfilled across Scotland. This decrease is primarily due to more waste being diverted from landfill to incineration and in part less waste being generated.
Part of the reduction was largely due to less soils landfilled, which decreased by 340,000 tonnes (29.0%) from 2019. This is likely a result of reduced construction activity in Scotland due to COVID-19 restrictions during the reporting period.
The total quantity of waste incinerated in Scotland in 2020 was 1.26 million tonnes, an increase of 38,000 tonnes (3.1%) from 2019, and an increase of 855,000 tonnes (208%) from 2011. There was, however, a 15.3% reduction (75,000 tonnes) of wood waste incinerated, a likely impact of COVID-19 restrictions such as closure of household waste recycling centres and reduced construction activities during the reporting period.
Terry A’Hearn, Chief Executive of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, said: “Last month, the world came to Glasgow to agree global action on the climate emergency. The message was clear that together, as counties, companies, or communities – we all have a role to play.
“How we use resources in our homes, workplaces, public services and private sector can have a real impact on Scotland’s environment. Whilst It’s positive that for a ninth consecutive year we see a move from landfill, the latest data does reflect the realism of the public health emergency.
“What’s important is not the past, but what we do next. We’ve shown that by working together, we can rise to the challenge of a healthcare emergency. We need now to show that we can do this again in tackling the climate crisis.”
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland, added: “There’s little doubt the disruption caused by the COVID_19 pandemic hit recycling efforts in 2020. In particular, the closure of recycling centres in many areas seems to have had the greatest impact.
“The good news is that the volume of materials collected for recycling at the kerbside increased, showing that there is a keen appetite to recycle more amongst householders.
“There was a huge collective effort from local authority staff in all departments, as well as private sector resource management companies, to keep the show on the road during the strictest lockdowns, and periods of heavy staff absence. This hard work was very much appreciated by the public. Without all of these efforts, the recycling rate may have been more severely affected.
Iain Gulland concluded, “As we move out of the initial shock to services caused by the pandemic, we need to redouble our collective efforts to increase the national recycling rate, with improved infrastructure and continued engagement with householders.”
The Face It: Reuse Beats Single-Use campaign returns as evidence from Keep Scotland Beautiful discovered two face masks are found littered per one kilometre across Scotland, and new data from the Marine Conservation Society’s Great British Beach Clean found Covid-related litter on a third (33 percent) of surveyed Scottish beaches.
Now, with the festive season fast approaching – when more people are expected to be out-and-about seeing friends and loved ones, eating out, or going to events where face coverings will be required – the environmental bodies have joined forces again to urge people to ‘choose to reuse’, wherever possible, to mitigate waste and protect our beautiful landscapes.
Wearing a face covering or mask helps to reduce the spread of Covid-19 and reusable face coverings are the most environmentally friendly option. They help us protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our planet, by reducing the amount of single-use plastic waste being created.
But, currently, over a third (37 percent) of Scots use a disposable face covering which cannot be recycled – these should always be placed in the general waste bin after use.
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has meant that we are now getting used to living a slightly different way of life. One of these changes is the continued use of protective gear, specifically face coverings.
“It’s easy to carry a reusable face covering and using them regularly will save you money in the long run. One small act can help protect Scotland’s pristine landscapes.
“The littering of single-use face coverings represents our throwaway society fuelled by our current mode of consumption. By shopping smarter, reusing more, and wasting less, we can help protect the environment. Be safe and sustainable when you’re out and about this Christmas by investing in a good quality, reusable face covering and making them part of your daily routine. That way you’ll be protecting yourself, your community, and the planet.”
Catherine Gemmell, Scotland Conservation Officer at the Marine Conservation Society, said: “Almost all the litter our volunteers find on beach cleans demonstrates the damaging throwaway culture we’re currently living in.
“The increase in COVID-related litter on Scottish beaches is of real concern for the environment, and wildlife. We can all play our part in stopping this sort of litter reaching the beach in the first place. If you can choose to use reusables, please do so, and if you use single-use please dispose of it responsibly.
“Next year, we’d like to see this type of litter declining instead of rising. Our ocean was struggling as it was, we can’t afford to make the situation worse.”
Barry Fisher, CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “Our surveys across Scotland have recorded more than two facemasks per one kilometre which is completely unacceptable. This Covid litter highlights our complete disregard for each other and our communities.
“ It is vital that people bin their litter and wear a reusable face mask when possible. By choosing to reuse, you are reducing your consumption, decreasing the chance of contributing to our looming litter emergency and you are helping to tackle climate change – it is a triple win for our environment.”
Reusable face coverings should be washed on the highest setting suitable for the fabric, preferably 60 degrees centigrade, after every use.
Shop-bought and homemade reusable face coverings, as well as other items (such as snoods), can all be effectively used to slow the spread of the virus. These should be at least two (preferably three) layers thick and tight to the face.
Reducing the demand for single-use face coverings is one way to tackle the problem of consumption, after it was found that around four-fifths (80 percent) of Scotland’s footprint comes from the products and materials we manufacture, use and throw away.
Zero Waste Scotland is encouraging Scots to reduce their consumption where possible. In a circular economy, existing materials are kept in use for as long as possible, and nothing is wasted.
£13 million to improve recycling and cut emissions
More than £13 million has been awarded to local authorities to increase the quantity and quality of recycling in Scotland.
Nine more local authorities have successfully bid for support from the Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund, bringing the total investment to date to £20 million.
The city of Edinburgh will receive £7.7 million for upgrades and expansion to recycling collection services which will see services improved for approximately 130,000 households.
The fund, which will total £70 million over five years, will deliver a step change in Scotland’s recycling performance and help local authorities get ready for future developments, including Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme.
The investment to date could reduce CO2 emissions by as much 21,400 tonnes each year — the equivalent of taking 11,400 cars off the road.
Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater said: “This is one of the biggest investments in recycling in Scotland in a generation.
“By providing the support that’s needed to modernise local recycling infrastructure, we can help local authorities significantly improve their recycling performance.
“That won’t just make it easier for households to recycle more – it will also make an important contribution to meeting Scotland’s ambitious climate targets.
“I look forward to seeing these projects deliver for local communities and the environment, and to further innovative ideas from local authorities on how they can utilise this fund to improve recycling in their area.
“We also want to see materials remain in use for as long as possible before they are recycled. To help make that happen, we will also be introducing an ambitious Circular Economy Bill during this parliament.”
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland said: “These awards represent a major new development in Scotland’s recycling story, with nine more impactful projects from across Scotland which make the most of our resources, boosting recycling and the circular economy.
“We’ve been impressed by the thinking from councils and look forward to even more transformational projects being brought forward next year.”
Councillor Steven Heddle, COSLA spokesperson for Environment and Economy said: “Local Government in Scotland is fully committed to combatting climate change and supporting the Just Transition to a net zero society.
“A circular economy is an important part of this. The Recycling Improvement Fund projects announced today demonstrate the range of work and level of innovation undertaken by Councils here.
“We are keen to see the full fund supporting a wide range of projects in the next few years that make it easier for our citizens to recycle and reduce waste.”
The city council has welcomed the announcement.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Environment Convener, said: “We really welcome this funding and endorsement from Zero Waste Scotland for our new modern communal waste and recycling service.
“It’s a significant contribution to our overall delivery budget which will help us provide this improved service to around 130,000 residents who live in shared properties and therefore don’t have our kerbside service.
“The new convenient hubs make recycling easier and more accessible for residents as we’ve grouped all of the different types of waste bins together.”
Councillor Karen Doran, Environment Vice-Convener, said: “This significant funding shows great support for our new communal bin hubs which provide increased capacity, a more reliable and frequent service as well as reducing overflowing bins and street clutter.
“The funding will also be used for new bin sensors and five new electric vehicles for our fleet helping towards Edinburgh’s net zero ambitions and making improvements to our air quality.”
Funding to deliver key recommendation of Scotland’s Climate Assembly
The Scottish Government is to help fund a new national network of community sharing libraries and repair cafes as part of a drive to reduce consumption and cut waste.
Under the £310,000 reuse and repair scheme, funded jointly with Zero Waste Scotland, more resource libraries will be established across Scotland – a key recommendation of Scotland’s Climate Assembly.
The facilities allow people to borrow items such as high quality tools, equipment, clothes and toys rather than buying them.
The scheme – overseen by the Circular Communities Scotland charity in collaboration with Edinburgh Tool Library and Edinburgh Remakery – will also see more repair cafes set up to teach people the skills to repair items.
A report by Social Investment Scotland on behalf of Zero Waste Scotland in 2020 identified 24 repair cafes and sharing library projects in Scotland and the intention is to increase this to 100 in the next three years.
Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero Michael Matheson said: “Scotland’s Climate Assembly called for action and I’m very pleased that we will support a network of resource libraries and repair cafes.
“Sharing libraries provide a direct reduction in consumption, waste and emissions because they allow people to switch from purchasing and owning items to borrowing them instead. Repair cafes give people the skills to re-use their own items.
“This network also supports our drive to tackle poverty by giving lower income groups access to tools or equipment not otherwise available and the skills to use them.”
Chief Executive Officer of Zero Waste Scotland Iain Gulland, said: “Scotland – and the world – urgently needs to address its consumption problem. The current demand on the planet’s finite, precious materials is unsustainable.
“The circular economy is one of the best tools we have in our arsenal. We can reduce our consumption by keeping existing materials in circulation and only buying new when absolutely necessary.
“Sharing libraries and repair cafes are not only great ways of implementing a more circular way of living, but an opportunity to get to know people and businesses doing amazing work in your community. We hope to see as many of these local initiatives come to fruition as soon as possible.”
Michael Cook, CEO, Circular Communities Scotland said: “For Scotland to combat climate change, we each need to change our own consumption behaviours. Sharing libraries and repair cafés provide simple and effective solutions to do this whilst reducing our carbon footprint.
“Rather than throwing an old item away we can repair it at a repair cafe, or even better, be taught the repair skills to fix it ourselves. Similarly, rather than buy a new product we can borrow one from a local sharing library. We are delighted to receive this funding to form the new network and significantly grow the number of these projects in Scotland.”
The city council is supporting the second phase of the award-wining Scotland is Stunning – Let’s Keep It That Way litter prevention campaign.
First launched last year to coincide with tourism re-opening in Scotland, the campaign by Zero Waste Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Government and Keep Scotland Beautiful, aims to raise awareness of the harm done by littering, encouraging Scots to change their habits by taking their litter home or binning it.
Scotland is Stunning – Let’s Keep It That Way aims to encourage people in Edinburgh who are eager to go out and enjoy Scotland’s natural beauty and wildlife to bin their litter or take it home with them.
Cllr Lesley Macinnes, Environment Convener, said: “We’re supporting this campaign as Edinburgh is a stunning city and we want to keep it that way.
“If you’re out enjoying our beautiful parks, beaches and other open spaces please respect the environment and other people who love the city as much as we do by picking up after your pooch and binning your litter or taking it home with you.
“It’s more important than ever that we all remember to do this over the summer months when our fantastic city can become very busy. We’re doing our bit by targeting at least ten ‘hot spot’ areas with campaign materials like bin stickers and social media messaging to encourage everyone to keep our much loved Capital city clean.”
The campaign, in which popular Scottish comedian Janey Godley lends her voice to radio and online adverts, reminds Scots out enjoying themselves to leave a green or rural space exactly the way you found it.
Janey Godley, said:“It’s no secret that I love Scotland and all the goings on, and I don’t understand why people would want to destroy our wee beauty spots with their rubbish.
“When I’m taking my wee sausage dog out for a walk or dragging my daughter on a day trip, I don’t want to be dodging coffee cups, plastic water bottles or sandwich packets.
“Take your rubbish home with you or bin it, ye’ve been tellt!”.
As Scotland takes another step back to normality, rural and green spaces and urban parks are expected to see a flurry of visitors in the coming months, raising concerns about littering. In fact, most people in Scotland are concerned about litter levels in their local area, with research carried out by Zero Waste Scotland indicating that a majority (89%) see it as a problem in their area. Recently, a third (34%) of the population have seen an increase in litter since the pandemic.
As well as being an eyesore, dropping litter is a criminal offence. Discarded waste can harm wildlife and be a danger for children.
This campaign also leads the way for behaviour change ahead of the expected ban on certain problematic single-use plastic products. As Scotland moves away from single-use items and increases recycling through the new Deposit Return Scheme for drinks cans and bottles, this will ultimately result in less litter, making a good case for systemic change.
https://youtu.be/mpIwSyFe0QY
Iain Gulland, Chief Executive, Zero Waste Scotland, said:“As restrictions ease and many of us can once again return to our favourite Scottish beauty spots, we are asking everyone to take their litter home or bin it.
“Visitors to green and rural areas will be keen to make up for lost time and we don’t blame them. We’re joining forces with brilliant partners once again to remind everyone to respect our hills, lochs, parks, and woodlands. Now is the time to enjoy the great outdoors but please leave Scotland as stunning as it was when you found it.”
Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, said:“We want everyone to have the chance to enjoy Scotland’s stunning outdoors this summer.
“Litter isn’t just an eye sore – it harms our wildlife, contributes to the climate crisis and impacts on our health and wellbeing. To make sure people can enjoy our parks, beaches and countryside after you leave, please put your rubbish in the bin, recycling it if you can.”
Barry Fisher, CEO, Keep Scotland Beautiful said:“We know from our work with communities across Scotland that most people want to do the right thing and take action to make all of Scotland stunning again.
“Our evidence shows that we’re facing a looming litter emergency across Scotland, so we’re delighted to support this campaign. We all can, and should, do more to tackle litter. And while some people need to change their behaviour, thousands of people have pledged to litter pick as part of our Summer Clean this month, helping them turn their anger into action.”
The Scotland is Stunning – Let’s Keep It That Way campaign will be rolled out across social media channels and outdoor advertising over the summer holidays.Partners, businesses, local authorities, and community groups are encouraged to download the free campaign toolkit, which includes digital tools and posters.
The campaign will involve close working with partners across different industries, from tourism to transport, building on the strong performance of the initial campaign in 2020, which achieved backing of over 100 organisations and positive feedback from those surveyed.
To support the campaign and encourage others to do the same, please download the campaign toolkit, or visit www.managingourwaste.scot/litter for further details.
