Scottish Greens put brakes on incineration
Council planning chiefs have been instructed to call in applications for new waste incineration plants to the Scottish Government, it has been announced.
In a statement on the circular economy, Scottish Greens minister Lorna Slater announced the move for the duration of the major review on the use of incineration as part of waste management.
This is the same planning instruction that was used ahead of the moratorium on fracking.
Responding, Scottish Greens environment spokesperson Mark Ruskell said: “Incineration has no future as a solution for tackling the climate crisis, as it produces climate emissions and relies on current unsustainable levels of waste.
“That’s why Greens in government are putting the brakes on plans to build these all over Scotland. This is the same procedure used ahead of the fracking ban, so it will be clear to councils what the direction of travel is.
“In the meantime, I’m glad that we are starting to see councils apply to the £70m funding to grow capacity and capability of recycling while we implement measures like the ban on the most problematic single use plastics to ensure that we build a truly circular economy.
“The Deposit Return Scheme will be an important part of that, and while It is frustrating that DRS looks to be delayed, with Greens in government we will deliver this ambitious scheme ahead of what will be a predictably weak UK scheme influenced by vested interests.
“The Scottish scheme will be huge and will include every can, every glass and plastic drinks bottle with far more return points than we have seen in other countries.”