Circular economy and waste route map to 2030: strategic environmental assessment - environmental report

8 Assessment Conclusions and Recommendations

8.1 What are the environmental effects of the proposed Route Map?

Subject to the practical implementation of what are recognised to be high level visions, aims, and actions for delivering sustainable resource use and a circular economy in Scotland, the proposals in the Route Map have the potential to cause positive environmental effects across all of the impact categories assessed:

• Biodiversity, flora, and fauna;
• Population and human health;
• Soil;
• Water;
• Air;
• Climatic factors;
• Material assets;
• Cultural heritage and the historic environment;
• Landscape and visual assets.

It is anticipated that by reducing demand for new products and virgin materials and driving down the amount of material disposed of via landfill and energy from waste, a range of negative pollution impacts on biodiversity, air, bodies of water, and soils can be avoided. Greenhouse gas emissions from material production and manufacturing processes as well as waste management activities are expected to be minimised, with material assets being kept in use for as long as possible through circular practices and improved recycling. Indirect positive impacts are anticipated in relation to the Scottish landscape, through reduced demand for unsightly disposal and extraction infrastructure, and potential to reduce litter and flytipping. Circular practices in the construction and demolition sector should also encourage the retention, reuse and repair of historic environment assets and materials, thus benefitting Scotland’s cultural heritage and historic environment.

The positive impacts of the measures are expected to be partially offset by increased resource use, for example, through increased recycling activity, or additional product or building maintenance. However, this assessment has concluded that none of the packages in the Route Map are anticipated to have a net negative impact on any of the environmental topics assessed.

To maximise the potential for positive environmental impacts and to support and enhance the wider aims of the Route Map, it is recommended that all measures are implemented with consideration to alignment with other relevant environmental plans, programmes, and strategies, such as Scotland’s Environment Strategy, Biodiversity Strategy and the National Litter and Flytipping Strategy.

It is anticipated that once specific interventions have been defined and agreed, further impact assessments may be necessary. This SEA has highlighted areas that future impact assessments, as deemed appropriate, may consider. It is likely that there will be further impacts, especially in the short term, that have not been considered in this SEA but should be assessed, where appropriate, once the interventions have been fully defined and detailed.

8.2 Proposals for Monitoring

Section 19 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 requires the Responsible Authority to monitor significant environmental effects of the implementation of the Plan. The Responsible Authority will be the Scottish Government.

In order to ensure the intended benefits of the proposed Route Map are being realised, a number of the interventions set out within the Route Map packages may be subject to their own impact assessments and monitoring framework once fully developed as policies.

The draft Route Map sets out the intention to develop a new circular economy monitoring framework and targets from 2025, drawing on existing evidence and progressing further research as required. The targets will cover the period to 2030 as a minimum. A robust, accountable monitoring framework, linked to the future circular economy strategy and set within the context of Scotland’s wider economic and environmental strategic landscape (including the Environment Strategy), is a vital component in delivering a circular economy.

The provisions in the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill, if passed, will give Scottish Ministers enabling powers to set statutory circular economy targets where appropriate. This could include reducing the use of materials, increasing reuse, increasing recycling and linking to priorities within the circular economy strategy.

The development of targets and a monitoring framework will give explicit consideration to material-specific targets, rather than ‘catch-all’ indicators, as recommended by the Climate Change Committee^[202], to provide a more powerful, targeted approach for the challenges we face today. The development of a monitoring framework will take into account the findings of this Environmental Report, alongside a range of tonnage, carbon and wider environmental factors and data sources.

8.3 Next Steps

The draft Route Map will be consulted on alongside the SEA Environmental Report. Following that consultation, the Scottish Government will review and analyse the responses received on this Environmental Report and the content of the consultation paper.

Public views and comments are invited on the environmental impacts of the proposed draft Route Map as set out in this Environmental Report.

The findings of this analysis will be taken into account in the adoption of the final Route Map.

Upon the adoption of a final Route Map, the Scottish Government will publish a Post Adoption Statement (PAS). This Statement will reflect on the findings of the SEA assessment and the views expressed in the consultation, and outline how the issues raised have been considered in the finalisation of the plan.

Scottish Government will monitor the implementation and environmental effects resulting from the measures within the Route Map.