Transforming recycling across Scotland: The Recycling Improvement Fund

Zero Waste Scotland’s Recycling Improvement Fund Manager david gunn reflects on the impact the fund has had since it was introduced in 2021.

Before COP26 came to Glasgow, The Scottish Government made a clear demonstration of how serious it was about tackling the climate emergency, putting a large financial commitment behind a transformative programme.

Cabinet Secretary for the Environment Roseanna Cunningham revealed ￡70 million would be set aside for Scotland’s councils, to pay for enhancements and innovations to recycling services across the country.

Ms Cunningham commented at the time that accelerating progress would be essential to meeting Scotland’s ambitious recycling and climate change targets, saying,

“this is vital to our green recovery and to put an end to our contribution to climate change.”

It’s been nearly three years since the launch of the Recycling Improvement Fund - managed by Zero Waste Scotland in conjunction with COSLA , Scottish Environment Protection Agency , SOLACE and the Scottish Government - and in that time a huge amount has been achieved, with projects being approved the length and breadth of the country, bringing new infrastructure and services to a variety of communities, from city centres to our rural areas.

Let’s take Aberdeenshire as an example: home to more than a quarter-of-a-million people and covering an area of almost 2,500 square miles.

Aberdeenshire Council was awarded ￡3.5 million through the fund, to introduce a twin-stream collection service for more than 120,000 households which will lead to more, and better-quality material being recycled.

With work to deliver these improvements well underway, more and more of the area’s residents are now able to recycle more and waste less – all from the kerbside of their own homes.

Or look at South Ayrshire Council , which used a ￡90,000 award to roll out on-the-go bins matching the colours of the area’s wheelie bin tops – an innovative change that the council reports led to a significant behaviour change – with an increase in items previously littered, now being collected for recycling.

These are just two examples. To date, 30 projects spread across 21 council areas have collectively received around ￡60 million through the Recycling Improvement Fund.

Funded projects are expected to result in 49,283 tonnes of additional material being recycled annually - equivalent to the weight of five Eiffel Towers – and have the same carbon impact as taking 29,783 cars off the road for a year.

And there’s more still to come.

While some councils such as Clackmannanshire and the Western Isles have already finished their projects, others like Glasgow continue to roll them out.

And with another two years before the Recycling Improvement Fund ends, the remaining funds are yet to be awarded - presenting an opportunity to other councils and waste reduction initiatives.

At the same time, the Scottish Government is taking additional steps to mitigate our country’s contribution to climate change.

The Circular Economy Bill, Route Map to 2025 and other initiatives will all help us become a less wasteful and more circular society.

Recycling will always play a vital role in our journey to circularity, and councils’ efforts on that front are important – indeed, we won’t achieve a circular economy without them.

This is why the Recycling Improvement Fund is so essential. With two years left to run, it can deliver further transformational change in Scotland.

As Scotland continues to transition to a circular economy, the work the Recycling Improvement Fund is supporting will be built upon, bolstering Scotland’s contribution to the fight against climate change.

Find out more about the Recycling Improvement Fund.

Read about Recycling Improvement Fund Projects.