Policy & regulation
In Scotland, a number of regulations exist which are designed to help businesses capture the value of materials.
Waste (Scotland) Regulations
Heralding perhaps the biggest game changer the industry has seen, the Waste (Scotland) Regulations came into force on the 1 January 2014.
The regulations require all businesses and organisations to separate key materials – plastic, glass, metals, paper and card – for recycling, while most food businesses are also required to separate food waste for collection.
Carrier Bag Charge (Scotland) Regulations
The Carrier Bag Charge (Scotland) Regulations came into force in October 2014 and now requires all retailers to charge a minimum of 10p for every single-use carrier bag.
Single-use Plastic Products (Scotland) Regulations 2021
Scotland has set a new precedent by being the first nation within the UK to ban numerous types of problematic single-use plastics.
Scotland's journey towards a circular economy
We must take our circular economy ambitions further. This is why the Circular Economy Bill and Delivering Scotland’s Circular Economy: A Route Map to 2025 and Beyond consultations are pivotal moments for our sustainable future.
