Catering Scotland

Zero Waste Scotland is seeking innovative new ideas to help alleviate the impact of litter and fly-tipping across Scotland.

Launching three programmes which aim to encourage creative, workable solutions, the organisation hopes to tackle Scotland’s long-standing litter problem.

It is anticipated that the programmes – Infrastructure and Enforcement; Innovation; and Product and Service Development – will include initiatives such as more community clean-ups, and the redesign of products and services to reduce some of Scotland’s most commonly-littered items such as increasing such as till receipts and coffee cups.

Similarly, by redesigning waste/recycling services to prevent accidental litter, the programmes represent part of the Scottish Government’s ambitious national litter strategy.

Towards a Litter-Free Scotland, launched last month by Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment, Richard Lochhead, and supported by Zero Waste Scotland.

Mr Lochhead commented: ‘Litter costs Scotland at least £53m each year to tackle, which is money that could be better spent on other things.

‘It is unsightly and expensive, and that’s why the Scottish Government is tackling the initiative with the country’s first litter strategy.’

Director of Zero Waste Scotland, Iain Gulland, added: ‘These funds are an important part of the Scottish Government’s litter strategy which Zero Waste Scotland is driving delivery of.

‘We know many people want to help tackle this problem in Scotland, and that’s why we would like to encourage bids from our full range of stakeholders, from private business to local authorities and third sector organisations, and we will consider all workable ideas.

‘These could include a communications plan, a new product, a system, method of community engagement, or innovative solution.

‘I would urge any individual, group or agency with a plan or an idea which fits the criteria to get in touch to find out if we can help make it happen.’

Ideas or plans are being invited for bids under the following funds:

The Infrastructure and Enforcement Fund

Projects could include:

• Installation of Recycle-on-the-Go Facilities in busy areas
• Improvements to existing Recycle-on-the-Go facilities
• New ways to prevent accidental and wind-blown litter
• New approaches to deter littering

The Innovation Fund

Projects could include:

• Ideas to tackle specific types of litter, including discarded cigarette butts and chewing gum
• Promoting the prominence of litter and Recycling-on-The-Go bins;
•  Boosting clean-up activity in communities

The Product and Service Development Fund

Ideas and innovations could include:

• Ideas which reduce packaging or prevent the most commonly littered items
• Reusable coffee cups for businesses in a local area to reduce the number of disposable cups
•  Incorporating anti-litter messaging onto product labelling

Visit www.zerowastescotland.org.uk for more information on how the new programmes can help you and your business reduce litter and fly-tipping in Scotland.