PROMOTING the reuse of construction materials are amongst a set of actions being suggested as part of the Scottish Government’s draft circular economy and waste route map consultation.
Over the past decade, the total amount of waste going to landfill in Scotland has dropped by over a third – with the most recent official statistics showing that the country met its 2025 target to reduce all waste by 15%.
Following an initial consultation in 2022, the new route map sets out a plan for new, national reuse and recycling targets along with priority actions needed between now and the end of the decade to help drive Scotland’s transition to a circular economy.
Embedding circular construction practices is amongst the actions proposed in the route map, with it including the development of regional Scottish hubs and networks for the reuse of construction materials and assets.
Other proposals include strengthening data and evidence of the environmental impact of actions, sustainable procurement practices, and skills and training; minimising the impact of disposal waste that cannot be reused and recycled; and the setting of new circular economy targets from 2025, which will run until at least 2030.
Circular economy minister Lorna Slater said, “We have already made good progress across Scotland, significantly reducing the amount of waste we generate and landfill, but we need to go further if reusing and recycling goods is to become the default choice for households, businesses and the public sector.
“For people to do the right thing for the planet, it is crucial that everyone experiences a modern, easy to use waste service. This second consultation sets out our priority actions and the tools we will put in place to help everyone play their part in cutting waste and capitalising on the economic opportunities that a circular economy presents to businesses. I urge everyone to take part.”
