Speaking at a WRAP conference yesterday, Mr Finnie said that Scotland's poor track record on recycling can only be turned around if markets are developed so there is a demand for the recycled materials collected.
WRAP has received 3.1 million from the Scottish Executive to stimulate markets for recyclables there, and the environment minister said that it would be integral to making the National Waste Plan a success.
Mr Finnie said: “The National Waste Plan sets a number of ambitious targets, but those ambitious targets can only come to fruition if markets can be found for recycled materials. The role of market development in achieving the objectives of the National Waste Plan cannot be underestimated. Collecting and sorting material is just the start.”
WRAP's aggregates programme has received 1 million from Scotland's devolved government, and Mr Finnie said that boosting the markets for sustainable aggregates would help ease the pressure on “finite primary resources and landfill sites”.
He said: “Turning these possibilities into a reality and economic spin-offs requires vision and self-belief but also business sense. There are business opportunities to be had in turning waste into a valuable commodity and the Scottish Executive is determined to provide the support to realise the vision.”
Placing the responsibility on all agencies working in Scotland, Mr Finnie added: “Meeting those objectives relies heavily on all agencies working together.”
- The Scottish Executive has awarded a 150,000 grant to a pilot scheme for recycling farm plastics until March 2004. The Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution is operating the scheme, in which bags are delivered to farmers at a cost of 15 each, and then collected when full (each bag holds about 250kg of plastics). The plastic is then sent for recycling into items such as garden furniture at a plant in Dumfries.
Register for free to comment