On Friday (11 March), Scottish Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater announced proposals for a ban on the destruction of unsold, durable goods. The ban is to be put forward as part of a consultation on a new Circular Economy Bill, to be published in May.
The ban is intended to address public concerns about unsold products being destroyed or ending up in landfill. Under the proposal, retailers would be required to look for other options for unsold products, including donating and recycling them.
The ban intends to bring Scotland in line with legislation such as that of France, which has already introduced a ban on companies destroying clothes, cosmetics, hygiene products, electrical items, and other unsold or returned items. Rather than landfill or incinerate unsold goods, companies are required to reuse, donate, or recycle their unsold products.
Circular Economy Minister Lorna Slater 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.
"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."
Michael Cook, CEO of Circular Communities Scotland added: “We are delighted a timetable has been set for consulting on the Circular Economy Bill and look forward to working with Scottish Government to deliver as ambitious a bill as possible. We have been campaigning for a ban on companies destroying products which could easily be repurposed for some time and, therefore, welcome, and fully support this proposal.
“Circular Communities Scotland represents a range of impressive charities and social enterprises providing a whole variety of creative alternatives for materials considered waste or surplus. This bill validates their significant contribution towards establishing a more circular economy in Scotland."
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.