Mr Gulland said his first task would be to fight for more clarity on funding for community recycling. “The level and accessibility of funding to community groups is currently in a state of confusion,” he said.
Funding schemes
The CRNS is targeting four funding schemes: Recycling Credits, the Strategic Waste Fund, the NOF programme Transforming Waste and the successor to the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme.
Mr Gulland said: “The Scottish Executive's Strategic Waste Fund is the obvious mechanism for funding new partnership projects between the community sector and local councils. But there appears insufficient guidelines on how local authorities should engage with our sector, which has resulted in some groups, many of which are well established, being left unsure of their future.”
He added: “We need to see a more joined-up funding strategy for the community sector within the implementation of the National Waste Plan. Whilst the NOF Transforming Waste programme will hopefully see another much needed injection of cash into our sector, it's the long-term sustainability of groups that needs to be addressed.”
RAGS
Mr Gulland previously belonged to the Recycling Advisory Group Scotland (RAGS) and was a key mover in helping RAGS establish the CRNS.
The CRNS was formed in March 2002 with a grant from the Scottish Executive. It represents more than 50 community groups.
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