Scottish Government publish Scotland’s circular economy and waste route map to 2030
Following the passing of the Circular Economy Act earlier this year, Scottish Government have published a route map that identifies priorities to 2030 that will help progress to a circular economy. The route map sets out a plan to deliver 11 priority actions including more sustainable use of our resources across the waste hierarchy and reducing emissions associated with resources and waste. It sets out clear timelines to deliver these actions to maximise progress, as well as outlining areas where the pace can be accelerated should the future budget situation allow before 2030. The route map takes into account the feedback from two consultations that were held in 2022 and in early 2024.
Full details of the routemap here.
The route map outlines Scottish Government’s priorities for delivery through to 2030, and how they will deliver and coordinate these actions to achieve maximum positive impact for communities and businesses in Scotland. It is aimed at everyone who has a role to play: the people and communities of Scotland, businesses, the third sector, and the public sector, including local government. In the Route Map Government sets out an intention to develop a circular economy strategy every five years from 2026 (see ‘Strengthen the circular economy’ section), alongside new circular economy targets by 2027. The strategy will build from the Route Map’s framework, taking a longer- term view of what is needed to deliver a circular economy.
Summary of actions
The actions are grouped under 4 headings below, see here for the full list. The priority actions include:
- Reduce and reuse
- Publish a Product Stewardship Plan to set out how we will tackle the environmental impact of priority products (by 2025/26)
- Develop an intervention plan to guide long-term work on household food waste reduction behaviour change (by 2026/27)
- Develop with stakeholders effective options to implement mandatory reporting for food waste and surplus by businesses (from 2025/26)
- Support the development of a model for regional Scottish hubs and networks for the reuse of construction materials and assets (from 2025-2027)
- Modernise recycling
- Facilitate a co-design process for high quality, high performing household recycling and reuse services (2024 – 2026)
- Review of compliance with commercial recycling requirements (2026)
- Co-design measures to improve commercial waste service provisions, commencing (by 2030)
- Decarbonise disposal
- Develop a Residual Waste Plan to 2045, 2027
- Facilitate the development of a Sector-Led Plan to minimise the carbon impacts of the Energy from Waste Sector, 2027
- Strengthen the circular economy
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Develop a circular economy strategy every five years, first one in 2026
- Set new circular economy targets by 2027
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Scotland waste and recycling targets
The plan sets out progress against the targets that are in place. Whilst the cumulative impact of these targets on net zero objectives has been positive, in some areas progress has not been at the pace and scale required. While the 2025 targets have provided a good platform for progress over the past decade, it is acknowledged that they are not universally the best indicators to deliver the circular economy, emissions and nature objectives. The actions set out in this Route Map are designed to chart what must come next to deliver the pace and scale required to meet the resources and circular economy objectives – including the role of future targets and the development of a longer-term strategy.
Full details on the route map here. Please contact Jenny if you have any questions.