New measures around household waste 

This is utter nonsense, to say this is born out of concern for the amount of flytipping which is completely out of control all over Scotland and costs local authorities literally millions each year...ALL THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES HAVE TO DO IS GIVE EVERYONE 3 FREE PICK UP'S A YEAR TO DRAMATICALLY REDUCE FLYTIPPING. Invest in more litter cameras, as the revenue from the fines would pay for itself in one day. A pensioner must pay a lot of money to get an old mattress taken away......so just pay someone 20 quid to do it, THATS WHY FLYTIPPING HAS INCREASED, and instead of the council changing it's practices, more fines for the householder. ridiculous.

I tentatively agree with this albeit there should also be emphasis on local authorities doing their job properly too. There should also be transparency on how it operates and independent ombudsman set up to mediate etc as the risk of local authorities using this as a form of revenue generation is quite high. Also recycling systems need to improved massively throughout Scotland as they're pretty poor. Having studied how Germany & Holland do recycling we are light years behind.

I believe the issue here is more to do with education to ensure householders know how to dispose of the different types of recyclate and how to reduce consumption in the first place.. Standardisation of collection between different local authorities would also help (ie. what materials can be collected mixed etc.) as this varies a lot. Finally ensuring there is the correct waste storage capacity per household and uplift frequency.

Whilst I agree with the sentiment behind what this measure is trying to achieve, it will cause problems in rural areas and tourist hotspots in particular. Local Authority requirements to have bins out on the street 8-9 hours before collection means that they are open to anyone putting anything in them outwith the control of the householder. In my area, the local authority is issuing red warnings when the mis-binned items have been put in by tourists looking for bins to dispose of their waste without understanding (a) what the requirements are in this particular local authority area; or (b) that the bins they are using are assigned to householders who are held responsible for their contents. In areas with heavy camper van traffic, human waste and bottles are being left in household recycling bins that are conveniently out at the side of the road. This is not speculation: it is an observed and experienced issue. The local authority doesn't care to find a solution or appreciate that penalising householders who are trying to stick to the rules is counterproductive. One key issue here is lack of understanding - if tourists are using a bin, this should be encouraged; but householders shouldn't be penalised for actions outwith their control. Having a simple system across the whole of Scotland where all local authorities have the same rules for what can go in which bin; and having bins of the same colour for the same items across the whole of Scotland would be a very good starting point to help that understanding.

Many elderly people are living on their own who cannot make head or tail of the regulations. Also true for some disabled folk. Not all of these people will have help to hand to do the recycling for them.

I think it is unfair to penalise members of the public when there is a lack of clear information about what goes in which bin (see below), not least because it is the manufacturers who persist in producing environmentally harmful single-use plastics (because it suits their bottom line) who are the real cause of the problem – yet they are allowed to get away without financial penalties. While fines may be appropriate for persistent offenders, after several warnings, I would prefer financial penalties to be targeted at producers who flood the market with avoidable single-use items and packaging. These producers are more than happy for the blame for plastic pollution to be placed on the individual, indeed many actively promote the concept of recycling because it suits their business model (of continued production of single-use plastics) and deflects responsibility away from producers and onto consumers. While I recognise that many members of the public do not use their recycling bins correctly, this is often because of a lack of clear information. Fife recently changed what can go in its green bins, but although this was publicised via social media posts, the information campaign was extremely limited and many people are still unaware of the changes. A sticker with what can be recycled should have been put on all green bins, as was done previously when the green bins were introduced. There is a lot of talk of “recycling” in the bill, when what is actually being described (for instance in the case of “problematic materials like plastic films”) is downcycling. Government should get its terminology right here. Turning plastic film into garden furniture or construction boards is NOT recycling, it is downcycling, and a truly circular economy cannot function on this basis. It is greenwash to label products as being ‘made from recycled materials’ when they are in fact made downcycled and in most cases cannot be recycled again. The public should not be hoodwinked into thinking they are making a positive difference to the environment by choosing to buy downcycled items. Clear labelling of this fundamental difference is crucial. We need to put far more emphasis on tackling the problem upstream, rather than mopping up the consequences of the problem through downstream recycling. We would not need to devote nearly as many resources to recycling if unnecessary single-use items and packaging were prevented in the first place. Much tougher incentives, penalties and legislation are needed to make this happen, and they need to be general in nature (e.g. a general green tax on avoidable single-use plastics), rather than bans on individual items, which take a long time to achieve in each case and only tackle the tip of the iceberg.

I prefer education to punitive monetory action. People are disgruntled with 4 plastic bins per house hold and no glass bin . People need to know what happens to the items to be encouraged to recycle , to feel included and be rewarded . I want to see the entire recycling process made public to know that it can become a sustainable contribution from every person of Scotland. At present a lot of folk believe the process does not function well. Hence the need to be educated and informed not penalised. Thank you for asking me

This is such a distraction from local authorities getting on with their job of minimising waste, improving recycle quality and maximising waste valorisation. Has this proposal come from local authorities?

Too many lazy people when it comes to waste disposal. There needs to be a penalty to demonstrate how serious this is. Too many people treating recycling like a joke.

But only if there are more bins made available. Its often impossible to dispose of waste properly.

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable. Also this will not work where bins are shared or accessible to others. The Bill must require the Scottish Government to consult with the public on changes to household waste systems, as these decisions will affect us

I understand that for some flats in my nearest city they are not being provided with recycling bins.

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable.

I absolutely agree that every effort should be made at local level to make repeat offenders dispose of their waste in a more responsible way. The problem I see is that where I live in Glasgow I can see zero chance that the council would be able to successfully enforce any penalties. There have been penalties for fly tipping for years and the number of prosecutions is pitifully small. Introducing more fines gives the impression that something is being done to tackle the problem but in fact all evidence thus far gives me no confidence this approach would be successful.

Yes grossly incorrect use of recycling bins should be heavily fined and enforced. But recycling should be far far more accessible and easy to use. Far more should be included in the recycling scheme and there should be restrictions on the amount of plastic that is used in food packaging.

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable The Bill must require the Scottish Government to consult with the public on changes to household waste systems, as these decisions will affect us

It is so difficult to know what you can and can't recycle. I do my best however I would not to be fined if I get something wrong. We need more information from local councils as to what we can recyle

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable The Bill must require the Scottish Government to consult with the public on changes to household waste systems, as these decisions will affect us

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be introduced when everyone has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable The Bill must require the Scottish Government to consult with the public on changes to household waste systems, as these decisions will affect us.

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable The Bill must require the Scottish Government to consult with the public on changes to household waste systems, as these decisions will affect us

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable The Bill must require the Scottish Government to consult with the public on changes to household waste systems, as these decisions will affect us

This is a difficult one though recycling is important there are alot of people who do it but, most people will put their bin out the night before to make sure they arent missed so how could you prove the householder put the waste in the bin? Someone walking past could deposit rubbish in a recycling bin, or a neighbour could put their waste in the recycling bin, so how would you issue a fix penalty notice without someone being falsly charged? In addition to this are you really expecting refuse collectors to check the bins? this will slow down how quickly they are doing their job meaning more money will need to be paid to hire more staff or increase staff hours meaning you will spend more meaning that enevitibly there will be a push put on to find people to issue fixed penalties to to gain some of the overspend back. To summarise this is a great idea but there would need to be alot more thought and structured plans put in place

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable The Bill must require the Scottish Government to consult with the public on changes to household waste systems, as these decisions will affect us.

Give people bigger bins or more collections might help the situation. How could you prove the householder put the waste in the bin? Someone walking past could deposit rubbish in a recycling bin and you would be handing out a fix penalty notice. Who thinks this stuff up?

Because Local Authorities are themselves, part of the problem, they have systematically reduced opportunities for recycling. Removing glass collection, reducing food waste collection, charging for brown bill uplifts and not actually recycling themselves! Deal with the root cause, not the symptoms

Fly tipping is the greater problem. The manufacturers of single use products / plastics in particular, a should be penalised, rather than individuals. Want all local authorities to use a unified system of bins. Otherwise very confusing.

I just about agree with this for persistent offenders but there needs to be adequate and easy means for households to dispose of their rubbish

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable. The Bill must require the Scottish Government to consult with the public on changes to household waste systems, as these decisions will affect us.

Labeling of ALL bins would be required especially for tourists. Coloured bins are not uniformally for the same use across the UK. When out for collection anything can be added by anyone.

(1) Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable. (2) The Bill must require the Scottish Government to consult with the public on changes to household waste systems, as these decisions will affect us.

Most Councils now provide their residents with appropriate bins and also have other waste facilities that can be used by members of the public.

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable.

Hopefully penalties may help, but local authorities need to provide more detailed and specific information on what householders should do with different types of waste in their area. Such info is specific to different locations in the same local authority and should go beyond the facilities that are provided by the local authority. There also needs to be educational info on repair, re-use and recycling. There should be re-use options associated with council recycling centres to reduce the throwing away of perfectly useable items, such as provided by Moray Wastebusters in Forres. Producers need to be urgently required to make their products more sustainable.

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable The Bill must require the Scottish Government to consult with the public on changes to household waste systems, as these decisions will affect us

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable.

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable The Bill must require the Scottish Government to consult with the public on changes to household waste systems, as these decisions will affect us

While I see plenty evidence of householders failing to recycle, and litter all over our parks, playgrounds, beauty spots, beaches and roadsides; flytipping is a wider problem. Fines for householders is a drop in the ocean. There are quite simply insufficient sites and options, let alone incentives, for householders and tradespeople to dispose of waste responsibly. My council in Dumfries is still (post-Covid) insisting on a totally unnecessary booking system for the districts recycling yards. It worked fine without before Covid and discourages ppl from popping in when alresdy on their way to somewhere, or when they want to go. You have to book days in advance sometimes. Remove council charges for clearing household furniture & appliances for instance. Stop making it the end responsibility of farmers and other landowners whose gateways & land are used as flytips. The costs would be less than clearing up the flytips. And again, there should be a focus on producers to make their products more sustainable. The Bill must require the Scottish Government to consult with the public on changes to household waste systems, as these decisions will affect us all.

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable The Bill must require the Scottish Government to consult with the public on changes to household waste systems, as these decisions will affect us

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable

I agree, with the proviso that fines should be introduced only when everyone has access to a consistent and effective recycling service; otherwise people will be punished for the failings of authorities. At the same time producers must be forced to vastly reduce the amount of packaging being hoisted on us. Why should we be spending so much time recycling packaging that we did want in the first place.

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services, sufficient bins and recycling for tourists and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable.

Fines to incentivise households to recycle should only be used once everyone in Scotland has access to high quality, consistent recycling and waste services and once producers have been forced to make their products more sustainable The Bill must require the Scottish Government to consult with the public on changes to household waste systems, as these decisions will affect us

I disagree with a punitive approach and I don't think it will work, there needs to be better communication with households to raise awareness of the rules, better sorting facilities and most of all an end to the fragmentation of the rules that vary widely between local authorities, there really needs to be a consistent framework regulating household waste across the whole of Scotland