A Waste Data Strategy for Scotland

A waste data strategy for Scotland has been developed in accordance with the requirements of Scotland’s Zero Waste Plan which was published in June 2010. The Waste Data Strategy for Scotland was published in June 2011.

Implementation of the strategy will deliver a substantial improvement in our understanding of what waste is produced and how it is managed. It will provide the information-base upon which waste producers, the resource management sector, the Scottish Government and regulators can work towards delivering the objectives of the Zero Waste Plan.

Written by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) in conjunction with a wide range of stakeholders, the strategy aims to produce high quality, robust waste data that will help Scotland’s society manage its waste better and make better use of its resources.

The strategy aims to improve the information available on waste and deliver the following benefits:

  • Give an improved understanding of what waste is produced and how it is managed.
  • Provide information to support the development of new business opportunities including the development of new waste management infrastructure.
  • Allow businesses and local authorities to benchmark their waste management performance.
  • Provide an information-base upon which waste producers, the resource management sector, the Scottish Government and regulators can work towards delivering the objectives of the Zero Waste Plan.
  • Monitor progress towards domestic and European targets.
  • Raise public awareness of waste management issues.

A consultation on the draft strategy took place from 21 April to 2 May 2011. It sought views on the overall aims, vision and scope of the strategy, notably on the waste data requirements, issues, outcomes and timescales identified, and the way in which the management and reporting of waste data collected by all organisations in Scotland could be improved.

A report summarising the results of the consultation is available here pdf link (85 kb).