Today marks the launch of A strategy for improving waste data in Scotland, a partnership document written by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Zero Waste Scotland and the Scottish Government, in consultation with a range of stakeholders.
Here, Gillian Flint, Scientist in SEPA’s Data Unit, explains more about the new strategy and what it means for Scotland.
The new waste data strategy aims to deliver Scotland’s current and future waste data needs as we move towards a more resource-focused future. It outlines what we will achieve and how we are going to co-ordinate and deliver a data plan that will support Scotland’s transition to a more circular economy - where products and materials are kept in high value use for as long as possible - as set out in Making Things Last: A Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland. Alongside this, we want to improve our understanding of how products and materials flow through our economy (waste flows), from the point of production to the final destination.
Achieving the aims of the strategy will depend on transforming the way we collect and report waste data, developing more streamlined systems and processes and embracing digital solutions.
Partnership working is also a central theme – engaging and working with people who provide, analyse, communicate and use waste data. The strategy was developed through stakeholder input, and it’s only through continued stakeholder involvement that we’ll be able to achieve successful implementation, ensuring the data remains reliable, timely and relevant. The new, dedicated waste data strategy web page on Scotland’s environment website will help with this, providing easy access to a range of waste data related information and news updates, including the strategy document, web links, case studies and blog posts.
If you’re interested in the work of the strategy, or have a blog or case study idea you’d like to contribute, please contact us at: wastedatastrategy@sepa.org.uk. The waste data strategy board (made up of representatives from SEPA, Zero Waste Scotland and the Scottish Government) will be delighted to hear from you. In the meantime, keep an eye on the dedicated web page where we’ll be adding a series of news updates over the coming weeks and months.
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