Exclusive:SNP under fire for 'costly wasted opportunity' to cut waste and boost re-use and recycling
Campaigners have hit out at the Scottish Government’s blueprint to cut waste.
SNP ministers have been criticised for a “costly wasted opportunity” on improving recycling and cutting waste in Scotland.
Environmental campaigners and civil society groups have penned a joint letter to SNP Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin which calls for a re-think on the Scottish Government’s draft plan on waste and material use after being left unimpressed by the proposals.
The draft strategy set out plans to increase reuse, repair and recycling rates with construction materials, fast fashion, EV batteries and food waste all addressed to some degree.
But 30 charities, community groups and influencers said the proposals do not go far enough given than material use in Scotland is “more than double the sustainable limit”, with more than 100 million tonnes of material consumed each year - or approximately 19 tonnes per person.
The government’s plan has been criticised for a lack of commitment to reducing material use as well as the absence of any mention of plastic and a “failure to hold big businesses accountable for their harmful practices”.
More than 1,100 members of the public have emailed the Scottish Government to share concerns about the strategy, which is being developed after the Scottish Parliament unanimously passed the Circular Economy Act in 2024. In December 2025, international experts wrote to the Scottish Government about the need for the strategy to tackle human rights and environmental abuses in supply chains.
Kim Pratt, senior circular economy campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “The Scottish Government’s proposed circular economy strategy risks being a costly wasted opportunity for Scotland.
“Ending the throwaway society is a huge opportunity to improve people’s lives, save councils money and protect nature. As it stands, this strategy is too weak to make the things we buy cost less and it won’t cut waste, pollution or carbon emissions.
“The strategy does not mention plastic once. There are no delivery plans to reduce the one million tonnes of food waste thrown away in Scotland every year. It does not hold businesses to account for selling wasteful and harmful products and leaving the cost of clean-up to others.”
She added: “We need a plan which aims to cut the amount of materials used in Scotland, make big business pay for the clean-up of their products and which will give everyone access to good reuse and recycling services.
“Without these changes, the Scottish Government will be pouring public money down the drain, and failing in their duty to protect people and nature from harm.”
Michael Cook, CEO of Circular Communities Scotland, said: “We welcome the opportunity to respond to the proposed circular economy strategy. It is very timely and has the potential to take Scotland forward in its circular ambitions.
“However, there is a lack of detail here and Circular Communities Scotland will continue to call for much more meaningful support for activities at the very top of the waste hierarchy, such as reuse and repair services.
“Without significant investment in these services, we will not see the circular behaviour changes that our sector and Scotland demands.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The draft strategy sets out our vision, outcomes and priorities for Scotland’s transition to a more circular economy.
“Building on existing commitments, this will help us continue to cut waste levels, create consistent and easy to use waste services across Scotland, and drive the sustainable use of plastic and other resources.
“Scotland was the first part of the UK to implement a ban on some of the most problematic single-use plastic products and we continue to work with our partners to reduce as many sources of plastic pollution as possible. All views will be considered when finalising the strategy.”
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