Circular economy and waste route map to 2030: business and regulatory impact assessment

Title of Proposal: Scotland's Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030

1. This document is the full Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) for Scotland’s Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030 (‘CEWRM’). The Route Map was published on 18 December 2024, and set out our intention to publish updates to the previously published impact assessments.

2. The CEWRM sets out strategic direction and lays the foundations to deliver a system-wide, comprehensive vision for sustainable resource use and Scotland’s circular economy from now to 2030. The interventions outlined in the CEWRM are at varying stages of development and therefore this BRIA sets out a high-level, indicative assessment of the potential costs and benefits that might be realised, with a focus on priority actions. The need for individual assessments as policy development progresses is highlighted throughout.

3. This final Route Map focuses on the delivery of 11 priority actions to drive progress. These are the actions that we consider are critical to unlocking progress, and which we intend to focus on. They are based on a review of the evidence under each strategic aim, and their potential role to drive progress through collaboration and partnership to 2030. This reflects the feedback from the most recent consultation in early 2024, and the updated assessment of the policy package.

4. Each section of the Route Map also sets out the further actions we will seek to take. These actions are designed to complement the priority actions. In some cases they support delivery of the priority actions (e.g. underpinning research, data, legislation), while in other cases they build on the priority actions through to 2030.

5. We recognise that some actions are not for government alone to deliver, and that these actions will be subject to discussions with partners and stakeholders, the outcomes of future spending allocations, availability of parliamentary time and support, and further research where relevant.

6. The Scottish Government is working within the current fiscal constraints, and we have ensured we have set out clear delivery timescales for these 11 priority actions, informed by collaboration and feedback from local government, business, and other stakeholders, to ensure they remain affordable and deliverable. The Scottish Government is committed to progressing a circular economy at pace and will continually look to maximise the speed of progress where possible taking account of partner feedback and the fiscal situation.