Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government will publish the analysis of responses in autumn 2019.

Given the on-going uncertainty over timing and nature of the UK’s exit from the EU, the timescale for a policy announcement is not clear.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the results of its consultation on future environmental principles and governance in Scotland, and developing detailed policy proposals which will include consideration of arrangements for a UK exit from the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

Work is underway to establish the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission and it will have its inaugural meeting after it is established. The membership and programme of work to be taken forward by the Committee in its first year will be determined once the Chair is appointed.

I refer the Member to the answer to question S5W-23886 on 9 July 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

SEPA holds some limited general data on the export of plastic, which can be accessed on SEPA’s website at:

https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/413268/2017_waste_data_tables.xlsx  

However, SEPA does not hold data on tonnages of repatriated waste, or on tonnages of Scottish plastic waste recycled in other specific parts of the world.

This information is not held centrally.

Zero Waste Scotland’s £18m Circular Economy Investment Fund has a focus on supporting innovative approaches to accelerate circular solutions in Scotland.

By collecting PET plastic in large quantities, separately to other materials, the deposit return scheme will not only increase the amount of plastic being recycled but also create a valuable resource that will be attractive to reprocessors. We are working to encourage reprocessors to invest in Scotland to take advantage of this material.

I refer the Member to the answer to question S5W-23883 on 9 July 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Advice from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency is that the risk may be significant. The development of domestic reprocessing and recycling capacity through projects funded by Zero Waste Scotland’s £18m Circular Economy Investment Fund will help to mitigate the risk of further contraction in overseas waste markets.

Reform of the current producer responsibility regime for packaging and our proposals on a Deposit Return Scheme for Scotland could provide greater incentives for investment in reprocessing within Scotland.