McArthur responds to SNP Government scrapping recycling target

Commenting on the Scottish Government quietly dropping its target of 60% waste recycling, Scottish Liberal Democrat climate emergency spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP said:

"Once again, the SNP’s response to their own failures on the environment is simply to abolish the targets they missed.

"Low recycling rates are the inevitable result of government choices. Infrastructure across Scotland simply 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 councils have been unable to invest adequately in the growth of recycling facilities to meet demand.

"Instead of getting on with tackling these fundamental issues, the Scottish Government has consistently chosen nationalism over environmentalism.

"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."