Someone holding a printed copy of a report titled 'Zero Waste Scotland: A Decade of Delivery'

Zero Waste Scotland: A Decade of Delivery

25 Oct 24 2 minute read

After a decade of delivery, Zero Waste Scotland has evolved to become Scotland’s circular economy public body with an ambitious plan to rewire our economy.

Charting the impact of our activities from 2014 – 2024

Ten years ago, Zero Waste Scotland set out on a journey as an independent organisation. Now, after a decade of delivery, we have evolved to become Scotland’s circular economy public body with an ambitious plan to rewire Scotland's economy. This report looks back on an extensive range of initiatives and projects, reaching many sectors of industry, commerce, local authorities, people and communities, and wider civic society.

Our report is a reflection on the past decade of work and highlights a range of our activities, initiatives and projects, and impact on, what continues to be, a journey for Scotland. Part of that journey has been from a historic dependency on landfill and significant overconsumption of resources, through to recognising the need for a circular economy that makes much more efficient use of resources.

We can see the accumulated result of a decade in which reuse and recycling became increasingly part of everyday lives, the urgent challenge of reducing carbon emissions to tackle climate change, and the role that reducing material resource use, and increasing circularity, will play in this.

close up of woman refilling glass bottle in refill store

Steps to rewire the economy

Our next challenge is to take these accumulated learnings to the mainstream recognition that we need to rewire the economy. This is essential if we are to genuinely embrace a circular approach - one that meets the needs of the planet and the economic wellbeing of all our people at the same time. This is no small task, but we will work towards it. 

Our ambitious new Corporate Plan – which will be published in November 2024 - sets out this significant mission. We know it will require even more ambition and collaboration with a wider range of partners, agencies, and other parts of Government, to build the economic, social, and environmental case for a circular economy and really build it into the mainstream thinking of economic policymakers   But, for now, please take a moment to acknowledge the impact we have made so far!