Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024

Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024

2024 asp 13

Commentary on Provisions

Circular economy strategy

Section 1: Circular economy strategy

7. Section 1 of the Act requires the Scottish Ministers to prepare a circular economy strategy for Scotland. Subsection (2) sets out the mandatory content of the strategy, with subsection (3) setting out particular aspects of the circular economy, and subsections (4) to (11) other additional factors, that Ministers must have regard to when preparing the strategy.

8. Subsection (12) provides that in considering the priorities for action for inclusion in the strategy, Ministers must have particular regard to sectors and systems that are most likely to contribute to developing a circular economy, with reference to certain specified criteria.

9. Subsection (13) requires that the circular economy strategy is consistent, so far as practicable, with the climate change plan prepared under section 35 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, with the environmental policy strategy prepared under section 47 of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, and with any other strategy or plan which the Scottish Ministers consider to be relevant.

10. Under subsections (14) and (15), Ministers must have regard to the circular economy strategy in developing, making and revising national policy (including proposals for legislation). For instance, in developing national policy relating to transport or another other devolved area of competence, Ministers would have to take account of the objectives included in the strategy.