The Scottish Government have published the draft plan for consultation, which details the steps Scotland needs to take on the journey towards a Zero Waste society. 

It proposes a number of ambitious approaches to reduce waste, increase recycling and send less waste to landfill, including:

·          The potential creation of 2,000 jobs through collection, sorting, reprocessing and treating waste

·          Encouraging businesses to reduce waste, increase their recycling of commercial waste and to realise the economic benefits of doing so

·          The possible implementation of further landfill bans on materials including glass, metals, textiles & wood

·          Improvements to recycling facilities in public places and more kerbside recycling

·          Increasing the focus on re-use, including potential targets

Launching a 12-week consultation on the plan in Inverness, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead, said:

"Scotland must reduce its impact on the local and global environment.

Our draft Zero Waste Plan maps out how we can reduce the country's waste, meet our highly ambitious waste targets and contribute to the work on climate change.

This is a positive step in tackling Scotland's waste - viewing it as a resource rather than a problem.  There are major economic benefits, as well as environmental gains, to be had including creating thousands of jobs and new business opportunities.

We all have a part to play in meeting this vision, including the construction industry which contributes around 45 per cent of Scotland's waste.

Reducing waste is good for business, as well as for the environment, as it reduces costs. We need to do more to tackle all types of commercial waste.