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Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill

This Bill requires Scottish Ministers to introduce measures to help develop a circular economy. This includes:

  • Publishing a circular economy strategy
  • Developing circular economy targets
  • Reducing waste
  • Increasing penalties for littering from vehicles
  • Making sure individual householders and businesses get rid of waste in the right way
  • Improving waste monitoring

This is a Government bill

The Bill became an Act on 8 August 2024

Introduced: the Bill and its documents

Overview

The Scottish Government believes that the principles of a circular economy are to:

  • Reduce the use of goods and materials
  • Increase the reuse of items and products
  • Increase recycling
  • Reduce the creation of waste

This Bill aims to introduce measures to help Scotland develop a circular economy. This includes:

  • Publishing a circular economy strategy
  • Developing circular economy targets
  • Reducing waste
  • Increasing penalties for littering from vehicles
  • Making sure individual householders and businesses get rid of waste in the right way
  • Improving waste monitoring

Why the Bill was created

The Scottish Government has introduced the Bill to make steps towards creating a circular economy in Scotland. It hopes that modernising waste and recycling services will help tackle the climate emergency and the biodiversity crisis. Introducing a circular economy strategy and targets will mean that progress towards reaching a circular economy is monitored.

Bill as Introduced

Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill as introduced (2MB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023

Accompanying Documents

Explanatory Notes (216KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023

Policy Memorandum (397KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023

Financial Memorandum (411KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023

Delegated Powers Memorandum (291KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023

Statements on legislative competence (108KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023

Accompanying Documents (print versions)

Explanatory Notes (299KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023

Policy Memorandum (460KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023

Financial Memorandum (412KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023

Delegated Powers Memorandum (394KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023

Statements on legislative competence (150KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023

Crown Consent

This Bill requires Crown consent. It is expected that this consent will be signified at Stage 3.

Financial Resolution

The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is required for this Bill.

Research on the Bill

The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.

Research briefing on the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill

The Bill was introduced on 13 June 2023

Stage 1: general principles

At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.

Timetable for Stage 1

Stage 1 Deadline

On 28 June 2023, Parliament agreed motion S6M-09754, that consideration of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 be completed by 26 January 2024.

On 20 December 2023, Parliament agreed motion S6M-11724, that consideration of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 be extended to 8 March 2024.

On 28 February 2024, Parliament agreed motion S6M-12321, that consideration of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 be extended to 22 March 2024.

Lead committee examines the Bill

The lead committee for this Bill is the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee.

Call for views (closed)

The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee held a call for views to help inform its examination of the Bill.

Read the call for views

Meetings

Correspondence: lead committee

Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill

Submission from Kathryn Gill, Policy and Advocacy Officer, Consumer Scotland, 15 April 2024

Recommendation that the Circular Economy Bill be amended to include a mandatory Carbon Footprint Reduction Target

Letter from various non-governmental organisations, 11 April 2024

Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill: Household waste contamination enforcement and financial penalties for waste collection authorities relating to household waste recycling targets

Letter from the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, 4 April 2024

Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill

Letter from the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, 14 March 2024

Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill

Letter from the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, 18 January 2024

See a full list of Stage 1 correspondence

Stage 1 report by the lead committee

The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee published its report on 28 February 2024.

Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 Report

The Committee received the following response to its report:

Letter from the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity (390KB, pdf) posted 14 March 2024

Work by other committees

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meetings

Report

The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on 2 November 2023.

Read the report

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee Correspondence

Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1 response from the Scottish Government

Letter from the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity to the Convener, 13 October 2023

Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1

Letter from the Convener to the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, 5 October 2023

See a full list of Stage 1 correspondence


Finance and Public Administration Committee

Meetings

Report

The Finance and Public Administration Committee published its report on 30 November 2023.

Read the report

Finance and Public Administration Committee Correspondence

Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill Financial Memorandum - letter of 14 March 2024

Letter from the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity to the Convener of 14 March 2024

See a full list of Stage 1 correspondence


Stage 1 Debate and decision

A Stage 1 debate took place on 20 March 2024 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.

  • Motion title: Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution
  • Text of motion: That the Parliament, for the purposes of any Act of the Scottish Parliament resulting from the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill, agrees to— (a) any expenditure of a kind referred to in Rule 9.12.3A of the Parliament’s Standing Orders arising in consequence of the Act, and (b) any charge or payment in relation to which Rule 9.12.4 of the Parliament’s Standing Orders applies arising in consequence of the Act.
  • Submitted by: Shona Robison
  • Date lodged: Monday, 04 March 2024
  • Motion reference: S6M-12386
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, 20 March 2024

See further details of the motion


  • Motion title: Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill
  • Text of motion: That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill.
  • Submitted by: Lorna Slater
  • Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2024
  • Motion reference: S6M-12552
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, 20 March 2024

See further details of the motion


Parliament agreed the general principles of the Bill

The Bill ended Stage 1 on 20 March 2024

Stage 2: changes to the Bill

At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them. 

First meeting on amendments

Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 7 May 2024:

Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (1MB, pdf) posted 01 May 2024

Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (252KB, pdf) posted 01 May 2024

Second meeting on amendments

Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 14 May 2024:

Second Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (1MB, pdf) posted 09 May 2024

Second Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (1MB, pdf) posted 09 May 2024

Third meeting on amendments

Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 21 May 2024:

Third Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (1MB, pdf) posted 16 May 2024

Third Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (387KB, pdf) posted 16 May 2024

Fourth meeting on amendments

Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 28 May 2024:

Fourth Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (395KB, pdf) posted 21 May 2024

Fourth Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (333KB, pdf) posted 21 May 2024

Stage 2 Correspondence

Follow up on points raised during Stage 2 of the Circular Economy Scotland Bill

Letter from the Minister for Climate Action

Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill - Stage 2 follow-up

Letter from the Minister for Climate Action, 6 June 2024

See a full list of Stage 2 correspondence

Bill as amended at Stage 2

Revised Documents (print versions)

Revised Explanatory Notes (342KB, pdf) posted 10 June 2024

Supplementary Financial Memorandum (357KB, pdf) posted 11 June 2024

Supplementary Delegated Powers Memorandum (236KB, pdf) posted 11 June 2024

After stage 2

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Meeting on 18 June 2024

Report published on 21 June 2024

The Bill ended Stage 2 on 28 May 2024

Stage 3: final changes and vote

At Stage 3, MSPs can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all MSPs can vote on them.  There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law. 

Scottish Parliament research on the Bill

Read additional research done by the Scottish Parliament on the Bill:

Briefing on the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill prior to Stage 3

Debate on proposed amendments

Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 25 June 2024:

Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 3 (361KB, pdf) posted 19 June 2024

Timed Groupings of Amendments for Stage 3 (968KB, pdf) posted 24 June 2024

Stage 3 Correspondence

A Scottish Government Deposit and Return Schemes Amendment at Stage 3 of the Circular Economy Bill

Letter from the Minister for Climate Action, 18 June 2024

See a full list of Stage 3 correspondence

Final debate on the Bill

Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.

  • Motion title: Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill
  • Text of motion: That the Parliament agrees that the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill be passed.
  • Submitted by: Gillian Martin
  • Date lodged: Monday, 24 June 2024
  • Motion reference: S6M-13757
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, 26 June 2024

Result 116 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote Vote Passed

See further details of the motion


Parliament decided to pass the Bill

Final version of the Bill

The Bill ended Stage 3 on 26 June 2024

Bill becomes an Act

The Bill was passed on 26 June 2024 and became an Act on 8 August 2024.

Read the Act

Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024