Funds will used to encourage innovative ideas

Zero Waste Scotland has launched two new grant schemes to encourage innovative thinking.

The initiative will commit an initial £500,000 to develop ideas which can help reduce waste and encourage recycling.

The Innovation Waste Prevention Fund and the Recycling Innovation Fund were announced by environment secretary Richard Lochhead.

He said: "Today's announcement of £500,000 to stimulate innovation will ensure Scotland is at the forefront of efforts to achieve zero waste, both at home and internationally.

"Innovation is vital if we are to become a zero waste society. New technologies can help us reduce our reliance on natural resources and enable us create value from the existing materials we use."

One example is at drinks giant Edrington Group which has built a prototype of a lighter weight whisky bottle which could save more than 2,100 tonnes of glass each year.
 
Iain Gulland, director of Zero Waste Scotland, said: "Zero waste can be a driver of industrial growth in Scotland, providing real opportunities for entrepreneurs who have the vision to see value in the materials we currently discard as waste.  
 
"Often the opportunities may arise from existing businesses thinking differently about their own inputs and outputs. For instance we are seeing major electronics firms in Asia taking concerted action to recover precious metals to go back into their own supply chain. 

"These are materials we currently have in abundance here in Scotland, still sadly finding their way into landfill sites.
 
"We want to see businesses in Scotland commit to zero waste and work with us to develop new solutions. 

For more info go to www.zerowastescotland.org.uk