Developing Scotland's circular economy - proposals for legislation: analysis of responses

List of acronyms

The following acronyms are used in this report.

DEFRA: UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

EPECOM: Expert Panel on Environmental Charging and Other Measures - a group of experts established by the Scottish Government in May 2018 to provide advice to Scottish Ministers on charges or other measures which may be adopted in Scotland, within devolved competence, with the goal of encouraging long-term and sustainable changes in consumer and producer behaviour, required to move towards a circular economy.

EPR: Extended Producer Responsibility - requires brand owners and manufacturers to take environmental responsibility for their products and the associated packaging when they become waste. This can involve: (i) creating take-back programmes, (ii) arranging waste collections, recycling or other suitable disposal, and (iii) designing products to make it easier for them to be reused or recycled.

HDPE: High-density polyethylene - a type of plastic commonly used for milk bottles.

MRF: Material Recycling Facility (also Material Recovery Facility or Material Reclamation Facility) - a large facility that collects recyclable materials and sorts them into materials of different types

PET: Polyethylene terephthalate - a type of plastic commonly used for soft drinks bottles.

SEPA: Scottish Environment Protection Agency - the environmental regulator in Scotland.