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New waste approach to be outlined 'Zero waste' target for Scotland
(about 13 hours later)
New solutions for dealing with Scotland's waste are to be set out by the Scottish Government. Plans for a national "zero waste" strategy have been unveiled by the Scottish Government.
Measures to be announced are expected to contain provision for waste-to-energy plants as well as increasing recycling targets. Measures include tough new targets aimed at increasing recycling and cutting down on waste sent to landfill and limiting waste incineration.
Scotland will face hefty fines unless it meets European targets for reducing what goes to landfill. Additional funding of £7.5m for community recycling projects has also been announced.
Friends of the Earth Scotland said the best alternative to landfill was waste prevention and recycling. Scotland will face hefty fines unless it meets European targets for reducing what goes into landfill.
Some local authorities want to turn the waste into energy by burning it, but incineration has proved controversial. In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Richard Lochhead, secretary for the environment, proposed consultation on the new targets.
Greenhouse gas Tougher targets
At a meeting in Abernethy on Monday, villagers raised concerns about an incinerator planned nearby. These include plans to increase the amount of municipal waste being recycled or composted to 60% by 2020 and 70% by 2025.
It has received approval from Perth and Kinross Council but opponents still hope to block the proposals. Other targets include limiting the amount of waste used to generate energy to a quarter by 2025 and stopping the growth of municipal waste by 2010.
There has already been a big increase in recycling across Scotland and targets may be raised considerably. Overall, Scotland should be aiming for a zero waste strategy, according to Mr Lochhead.
However, many local authorities believe that will not be enough to solve the waste problem. "Dealing with waste sustainably is fundamental to the future of Scotland and the future of the planet," he said.
Stuart Hay, Friends of the Earth Scotland spokesman, said mass-burn incinerators were not an acceptable solution to Scotland's waste problems. "Our performance on waste has improved considerably in recent months with notable progress on recycling and reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.
He added: "Inappropriate investment in waste-to-energy plants risks reducing incentives for waste prevention and recycling, thus leading to unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions. The real priority and alternative to landfill is waste prevention and continued improvement of recycling facilities and rates Stuart Hay Friends of the Earth Scotland
"The real priority and alternative to landfill is waste prevention and continued improvement of recycling facilities and rates." "However, there is much more we need to do if we are to truly make a difference locally and globally and today we are setting out our new waste policy to make Scotland greener and a world-leader on waste management."
He called for ministers to continue to pursue the "zero waste" approach. Householders should play their part by home composting, rejecting junk mail, re-using carrier bags and avoiding food waste, he added, while retailers should strive to reduce needless packaging.
Businesses should focus on reducing commercial and industrial waste.
Some local authorities want to turn the waste into energy by burning it, but incineration is controversial.
Mr Lochhead said large, inefficient incinerators - which he described as "white elephants" - are to be rejected.
'White elephants'
Instead he favours smaller, more efficient plants combining heat and power, such as those recommended by the Sustainable Development Commission.
Stuart Hay, head of campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, warmly welcomed the higher recycling targets and focus on small-scale, localised facilities.
But Scotland still had more to do to rid itself of the "dirty man of Europe" tag, he added, and additional investment and commitment was required.
He said: "The government needs to work hard to make this policy succeed."
Scottish Green Party co-convener Robin Harper MSP said: "It is grossly misleading for ministers to describe burning up to a quarter of Scotland's waste as part of a zero waste strategy, or for incineration to be described as renewable in any way.
"A true zero waste approach would start with reductions in excess packaging and the like, redesigning products for longer life, then identifying materials to be reused, before moving onto recycling and composting."