Award of CR/2022/15 - Understanding implementation of direct variable charging

Tender description

Background & Context 7. The Scottish Government have set challenging waste targets for 2025, including: - to reduce all waste generated in Scotland by 15% in 2025, based on 2011 baseline; and - for 70% of all Scotland’s waste to be recycled, composted or prepared for reuse by 2025 8. The Scottish Government target of a 60% household recycling rate by 2020 has not been met, and it will be challenging to meet 70% all waste recycled target for 2025. Despite significant improvements over that decade the Scottish household recycling rate has plateaued at around 42-45%. Further action is therefore needed to ensure that the 70% target can be achieved as soon as possible. 9. A Waste Route Map has been developed in collaboration with stakeholders to set out potential measures for meeting all of Scotland’s waste targets and transitioning to a circular economy. This Route Map is currently out to public consultation (30 May to 22 August). Simultaneously, a Circular Economy Bill consultation sets out our proposals for legislation, which will provide the powers we need to do deliver these measures. 10. The Route Map development process has identified where more evidence is needed to investigate or develop policies in this space. 11. Analysis of high performing recycling systems around the world suggests that steps to disincentivise or reduce residual waste production and collection is key to boosting recycling. The evidence suggests householders should be incentivised to minimise residual waste to support recycling rate improvements. 12. In other countries this has been achieved in multiple ways, for example through restricting effective weekly residual waste capacity (via smaller bins and/or less frequent collections), enforced volume limits (as in Wales), or other financial measures like direct pricing variations for residual waste collections (‘direct variable charging’). 13. This project is required to investigate the potential for any form of direct variable charging in Scotland, and so this project will feed into the ongoing route map development, alongside consultation responses.