Retail Waste Fund Only Scratches Surface of Waste Mountain- Greens Repeat Call for Zero Waste Policy for Scotland
Tue., November 09, 2004. 00:00.
Shiona Baird MSP, Co-convener of the Scottish Green Party and Green speaker on enterprise, today welcomed the £8 million Retail Innovation Fund launched by the Scottish Executive to reduce packaging waste, but commented that it would have far greater impact if it was part of a national policy of zero waste.
Shiona Baird MSP, Co-convener of the Scottish Green Party and Green speaker on enterprise, today welcomed the £8 million Retail Innovation Fund launched by the Scottish Executive to reduce packaging waste, but commented that it would have far greater impact if it was part of a national policy of zero waste.
Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister Lewis Macdonald is today expected to launch an initiative designed to reduce waste in retail products and packaging (1). The Retail Innovation Fund is an £8 million investment across the UK and will be managed by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
Shiona Baird MSP said: "I am heartened to see the Executive putting resources into reducing waste at source. We need to see many more initiatives like this, across all sectors. But this scheme should be part of a co-ordinated national approach to make more efficient use of resources and to eliminate waste - in other words a zero waste policy. Once again, I call on the Scottish Executive to show vision and leadership and adopt a zero waste policy for Scotland."
Shiona Baird has launched a zero waste campaign and has outlined how Scotland could discard its reputation as a high waste culture. A zero waste 12 point plan shows examples from around the world such as New Zealand, Canada and Australia where the concept of zero waste is being put into practice. (1)
The campaign is aimed at eliminating waste, landfill sites and incinerators from Scotland and delivering environmental justice to communities across the country.
Zero waste is a shift away from the current production-consumption-disposal system to focus on:
- redesign (ensuring everything is made re-usable or recyclable)
- reduce (the amount of packaging we use)
- re-use (pass unwanted items onto someone else)
- repair (fix items rather than buy new ones)
- refurbish (take care of items so that they last longer)
- recycle (and compost)
ENDS
For further information call the Green MSPs' press office on 0771 761 8771.
Notes to editors
1. The launch will take place at Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh at 10.30am.
2. For more information on the Green MSP zero waste campaign go to: http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk/policies/zerowaste.pdf
Contact the Scottish Greens' press team on 07909 933 074.