Lib Dems call for latte levy and local authority support as recycling figures stagnate

Responding to new figures from SEPA showing recycling levels stagnant and an increase in waste being burned, Scottish Liberal Democrat climate emergency spokesperson Liam McArthur said:

“A 0.3% increase in recycling is a drop in the ocean when it comes to making progress on recycling.

"At the moment the infrastructure is not up to scratch to support people to make positive waste choices. After years of reduced income from the SNP’s council tax freeze policy, local authorities have not been able to invest adequately in the growth of recycling facilities and cannot meet the demand.

“The Scottish Government’s solution has been to fill lorries and send them south of the border. That's terribly short sighted, waste doesn't simply vanish once it crosses the border into England.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats are committed to positive solutions like support for businesses and households to reduce waste, a country-wide latte levy to prevent millions of cups going straight to landfill, and a conversation about when non-recyclable single use plastics can be banned outright."