Circular economy and waste route map to 2030: strategic environmental assessment - post adoption statement

3. How the Environmental Report has been taken into account

3.1 The conclusions of the Environmental Report

As set out in Table 1, the Environmental Report concluded that the Route Map is expected to lead to net positive effects across all in-scope SEA topics, noting some areas of uncertainty.

The assessment concluded 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 could be avoided. Greenhouse gas emissions from material production and manufacturing processes as well as waste management activities were 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 were 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 were expected to be partially offset by increased resource use, for example, through increased recycling activity, or additional product or building maintenance. However, the assessment concluded that none of the packages in the Route Map were 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, the Environmental Report recommended that all measures should be implemented with consideration to alignment with other relevant environmental plans, programmes, and strategies, such as Scotland's Environment Strategy^[5], Biodiversity Strategy^[6] and the National Litter and Flytipping Strategy^[7].

It is anticipated that once specific interventions have been further defined and agreed, further impact assessments may be necessary. The Environmental Report highlighted areas that future impact assessments may consider. It is anticipated that there will be further impacts, especially in the short term, that were not considered in depth in the SEA for the Route Map due to a lack of sufficient detail available at the time. Such impacts should be assessed, where appropriate, once the interventions have been fully defined and detailed.

3.2 How has the Environmental Assessment altered the shape of the final approach?

In light of the net positive environmental consequences identified in the Environmental Report, the preferred option was to adopt the Route Map, in full, as outlined and consulted upon in 2024, with some minor amendments as described in Section 2.2.

The final adopted version of the Route Map has largely taken this option forward, with just one action removed from the plan following the Environmental Assessment and subsequent consultation: to 'investigate the feasibility of [voluntary food waste reduction] action plans'. Due to the long term and indirect nature of this measure, it was not individually assessed in the SEA Environmental Report. The projected impacts identified under the area of food waste are therefore not expected to be significantly affected by the decision to remove this as an action. The ambition set out within this chapter remains the same. The enhanced support for businesses and strengthening of evidence around food waste and surplus are still anticipated to result in a reduction in wasted food and an increase in composting and organics recycling in favour of incineration and landfill in the long term.

One additional standalone action has been added to the strategic aim 'Modernise Recycling': to 'undertake a consultation to explore kerbside collection of textiles'. This area was previously highlighted in the broader recycling co-design action in the draft Route Map. The addition of this action is not expected to change the nature of the overall environmental effects of the Route Map, and is indeed likely to embolden the outcomes identified in the Environmental Assessment. Should the consultation on a kerbside collection of textiles lead to the implementation of such a service, it is likely to support the identified outputs of a reduction in disposal of materials by landfill or incineration, potentially contributing to a decrease in demand for virgin materials in the long term. Subsequent environmental outcomes will be emboldened, adding a focus on textiles, a waste stream proven to have a high environmental impact^[8].

To maximise the potential for positive environmental impacts and to support and enhance the wider aims of the Route Map, the Environmental Assessment recommended that all measures should be 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. These strategies are considered and named within the final version of the Route Map, and the Scottish Government continues to work collaboratively across relevant departments and with delivery partners to ensure ongoing alignment between these areas.

In refining and developing the implementation of the actions within the Route Map where relevant, the Scottish Government will continue to take into account the recommendations in the Environmental Report to maximise the potential environmental benefits of implementing the Route Map.

The Scottish Government has taken note of these recommendations and will co-ordinate further impact assessments as necessary as actions within the Route Map are taken forward. For example, the 2024 consultation on the proposed implementation of charging for single-use disposable beverage cups in Scotland has been subject to its own SEA process.^[9]