Seven in ten Scots want to see a “recycling revolution” across the country with urgent investment in local authority collections.
A Survation poll for aluminium packaging industry body Alupro found 69 per cent want Holyrood to plough cash into improved recycling services – with the nation lagging far behind Wales. Scotland’s household recycling rates have stagnated in recent years, currently at 43.5 per cent – compared to a whopping 66.6 per cent in Wales.
The poll, which to 1024 Scots between January 7-13, also found widespread support for delivering a long-delayed Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland. A bespoke Scottish scheme was ditched in 2023 after being blocked by Westminster, with a UK-wide scheme now expected – although it has been delayed until 2027.
Tom Giddings, Executive Director at Alupro, said: “This poll shows how deeply voters in Scotland care about the environment and what happens to the waste they produce. As an industry we are clear that higher recycling rates are good for people and planet.
“Delivering consistent local authority kerbside collections is key to ensuring all recyclable packaging is collected for recycling. Scotland’s deposit return scheme will be at the heart of a recycling revolution too.
“Now more than ever before, it is clear the people of Scotland deserve the successful implementation of a deposit return scheme by 2027 at the latest.” The SNP government recently set out a new five-year strategy for how it will implement its plans for a “circular economy”, including improved recycling services.
Proposals include potentially introducing kerbside collections of textiles like old clothing, as we revealed last month. Other new policies include a statutory code of practice across Scotland for household waste services and giving councils “more tools” to support household recycling and reduce contamination of bins.
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