In an effort to boost recycling of plastics, the Scottish government is offering loans to recyclers. A £2.5m loan scheme has been set up by the government. The Scottish Enterprise and Zero Waste Scotland are to administer the loan scheme.
The government estimates that in 2011, the country had generated approximately 500,000 t of waste plastic. Scotland was able to recycle only about 20% of the generated waste. The government had sent most of the waste to waste recycling facilities in England and in other countries.
Studies have identified the potential of increasing plastics recycling in the country. The loan scheme is based on this study. Numerous business opportunities exist in manufacturing products using recycled plastics. Various types of plastics products including rigid plastics, plastic bottles, yoghurt pots, uPVC door and window frames, plastic films and plastics in electrical equipment can be recycled.
Richard Lochhead, the environment secretary of Scotland, stated that the country was collecting 280 million bottles every year. This demonstrated the country’s realization of the importance of waste plastic. Research conducted by Zero Waste Scotland has revealed that there was business potential to recycle different types of plastic and also larger quantities of plastic.
The Scottish government’s loan scheme is an endeavor to support businesses to develop such recycling business opportunities. The government endeavors to recycle the resources repeatedly in order to derive the maximum employment and economic benefits for the people in Scotland. By 2025, the government intends to recycle 70% of the waste generated in the country.
Source: http://www.prw.com