COMPANIES in Scotland could be banned from dumping unsold products that are still in good order.
The Scottish Government will include the measure as part of the consultation on its new Circular Economy Bill, which is due in May.
Ministers believe such a move would address public concerns about unsold products being destroyed or ending up in landfill.
READ MORE: Cumbernauld town centre to be demolished and redeveloped by North Lanarkshire Council
Instead retailers would be forced to consider other alternatives, such as donating unsold items or recycling them.
France has recently brought in such a ban, with the European Union also considering a similar intervention.
Circular economy minister Lorna Slater (below) said: “It is absolutely senseless for perfectly good products to end up in landfill. Rather than being wasted in landfill or incinerated, they should be reused or repurposed.”
The minister spoke out ahead of a visit to Fresh Start in Edinburgh, where white goods and household items that have been donated by companies are given to help those who have been homeless as they move into a new property.
Slater said: “Organisations like Fresh Start show that there is a real need for items like these, and with the cost of living increasing this need is growing rapidly.
“We are living in a climate emergency. When goods go to landfill without having even been used once, we don’t just waste the product – we also waste all the energy and raw materials that went into making it.
“This proposal is a direct response to the public concerns about what happens to items that go unsold. By pursuing a ban, we can make sure they make it into the hands of those that need them, and help Scotland reduce its carbon footprint.
“This is the sort of action that’s needed to create a circular economy and shows the level of ambition that will be contained in our proposals in May.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel