ZERO Waste Scotland is calling on local authorities, businesses and organisations to pledge to take action on household plastics this Recycle Week.
Recycle Week, which takes place between September 24 to 30, is the annual UK-wide campaign to raise awareness of the importance of recycling.
This year, Zero Waste Scotland said it is calling “time’s up” on the 30,000 tonnes of plastic bottles ending up in landfill each year, when they could have been recycled.
The group said plastic bottles like shampoo and cleaning products are not being recycled.
Zero Waste Scotland is asking organisations to support the campaign by using the online partner guide with its ready for use, downloadable campaign material.
The organisation says getting involved with the campaign is an easy way to highlight how recycling the different kinds of plastic bottles around the home, as well as the workplace, right now can make a difference for future generations.
Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, said: “Scotland’s vision is for a ‘zero waste’ society. The target we’re working towards is to send no more than 5% of all waste to landfill, and for 70% of waste to be recycled or prepared for re-use by 2025.
“In order to achieve that, it’s essential that we all recycle as much and as often as we can.
She added: “We do so not just for ourselves, but for future generations.
“Recycle Week is a great initiative that helps to raise awareness of recycling as a collective effort for all Scots, and I’m urging every organisation – big and small – to get on board.”
Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “Recycle Week is the ideal opportunity to do more to make sure we’re recycling as much as we can.
“We all use plastic bottles in our daily routines – from shampoo and shower gel, to cleaning products – which can all be widely recycled, and it doesn’t take long to do.
“The issue of single use plastics has been well-documented during the last year, and we want to make sure Scots are aware that we need to take action on plastic now.
“We have seen recycling rates improve across the country but we’re still seeing too many plastic bottles end up in landfill unnecessarily.”
Zero Waste Scotland aims to “create a society where resources are valued and nothing is wasted”.
The organisation’s goal is to help Scotland realise the economic, environmental and social benefits of making best use of the world’s limited natural resources.
It is funded to support delivery of the Scottish Government’s circular economy strategy and the EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy.
More information on all Zero Waste Scotland’s programmes can be found at www.zerowastescotland.org.uk
To download the toolkit for Recycle Week and play your part visit https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/RecycleWeek2018Toolkit
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