Scotland teaches public to tackle waste

Environment Minister Ross Finnie pledged £100,000 towards the Scottish Waste Awareness Group (SWAG)’s campaign, ‘Waste Aware Scotland’. The campaign will be shaped around the findings of a consumer survey on attitudes towards reducing, reusing and recycling waste.

The two-year survey of 9,000 people found that 83% were willing to participate in kerbside recycling schemes, while 50% already recycled and 32% composted their organic waste. Most were satisfied with Scotland’s recycling facilities but felt more could be done to change behaviour and perceptions.

“The throwaway society is not sustainable,” said Finnie. “We are working with local authorities and SEPA to put in place Area Waste Plans and will shortly be launching our National Waste Plan. SWAG will help promote the message that the public has an important role to play in making Scotland a cleaner, greener and safer place.”