Scotland is recycling more than ever before – and it’s having a positive impact on the environment, according to the latest results revealed on 16 March 2016 of a unique approach to measuring the environmental impact of waste, developed by ACR+ member Zero Waste Scotland.

Scotland’s Carbon Metric is a pioneering way to measure the carbon impact of our waste, not just the amount that is recycled. The latest figures were revealed by Zero Waste Scotland Chief Executive Iain Gulland at the ‘Circular Economy Now’ event, hosted by ACR+. The Carbon Metric takes into account the greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste, from the energy and raw materials that went into producing items, through to the impact of transporting materials in order for them to be recycled. It also shows the carbon impacts of managing our waste in different ways, allowing us to compare the benefits of waste management methods such as recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion and re-use. The Carbon Metric will also be important in measuring progress towards the Scottish Government’s ambitious new target to reduce food waste by 33% by 2025.

For more information: www.zerowastescotland.org.uk

Read the full report here