In an important initiative on the environment, the Council is challenging organisations and individuals across the county to work together to achieve a zero waste East Lothian that moves away from landfill and treats waste as a resource.

Early next year the Council will invite community groups, businesses and other interested organisations to a waste summit to discuss ways of achieving the ambitious aim of gradually reducing waste year upon year to achieve a zero waste society by 2050.

The concept of a zero waste society is expressed by the three Rs - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle - the ultimate aim being that no waste goes to landfill. This means cutting potential waste at source such as over-packaging of consumers goods; reusing things whenever possible; and recycling materials such as paper, glass and plastics for use again in the production of goods.

Council's environment spokesman Councillor Paul McLennan said: “Moving toward a zero waste society is a long journey but it is one that we must start now. It will be challenging because it requires changes in behaviour to cut unnecessary consumption.

“Many householders are doing their bit, but we need everyone in the county to play a part including producers and retailers who might think about the design and amount of packaging that is necessary to market their products. We must also consider how we can reduce food waste and amount of commercial waste going to landfill.”

Councillor McLennan said that consultations towards achieving a zero waste society by the middle of the century would go hand in hand with expanding our recycling rates to achieve an ambitious target of 70 per cent by 2025 and exploring the most effective ways of dealing with residual waste. 

“The Council will also take advantage of the Scottish Government's zero waste fund of over £150 million over the next three years which supports recycling and composting infrastructure.”

The government has set recycling targets of 50% of all waste by 2013, 60% by 2020 and 70% by 2025. According to European Union figures, some European countries are already achieving 60 to 70% recycling rates.

ENDS

Issued by Rob Sinclair, Communications and Marketing, 28 October, 2008 T. 01620 82 7741 M. 07887675547 Email rsinclair@eastlothian.gov.uk