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

Rationale for Intervention

22. Much has changed since most of our existing waste targets were set in 2010. The climate emergency has intensified our focus on emissions reduction, and how we view and treat our precious resources. We can see the day-to-day impacts that climate change and the nature crises are having on our communities, our society, our economic wellbeing, and our environment – both here in Scotland and globally.

23. Founded on evidence and collaboration, the Route Map is part of the Scottish Government’s wider response to these challenges, sitting alongside a range of other strategies and plans. It is designed to drive progress on three key fronts:

• Setting the strategic direction and laying foundations for how we will deliver our system-wide, comprehensive vision for Scotland’s circular economy from now to 2030. The shift to a circular economy can help realise the economic growth potential associated with climate action.
• Setting out priority actions from now to 2030 to accelerate more sustainable use of our resources across the waste hierarchy. We acknowledge the progress we have made against our existing 2025 waste reduction and recycling targets, the areas where we have fallen short, and the lessons we can learn as we set out the framework for what comes next.
• Reducing emissions associated with resources and waste. The Route Map sets out the opportunities we will take to decarbonise the waste sector ahead of the draft Climate Change Plan, to be published in 2025, and our approach to tackling the whole-life climate impact of Scotland’s resource management and waste.^[20]

24. Planning for delivery to 2030 and beyond, it is recognised that policy measures are at different stages of development. This is reflected in the CEWRM, and this BRIA.

25. The actions set out in this assessment draw upon a wide range of evidence, including published and peer reviewed literature, official waste data for Scotland published by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), and previous research by the Scottish Government, Zero Waste Scotland and other parties. Following each consultation period, analysis was undertaken of consultation responses in order to understand the full range of views on the CEWRM, its proposals and impact assessments.

26. This is the beginning of this process, rather than the end, and as we move into the implementation phase of the Route Map, the Scottish Government reiterates its commitment to work in partnership with stakeholders to assess the full impacts of specific measures as they are further defined to ensure they remain feasible, impactful and deliver value for money. For example, measures may need to consider further individual and cumulative impacts on the environment, public spending, the cost to business including small and medium-sized enterprises, consumer choice and affordability, equality, socio-economic and island communities’ impacts.