By Dave Lord

RECYCLING PROJECTS are being urged to tap into a new £7.5 million fund established by the Scottish Government.

Environment minister Richard Lochhead revealed details of the initiative during a visit to Perth, saying it would “push back the boundaries” for community groups throughout Scotland.

Speaking at the Community Recycling Network Service (CRNS) annual conference, he also announced a new Zero Waste Think Tank will meet on March 26.

During the conference a number of experts warned re- cycling needs to play an even greater role in society if a “looming global energy crisis” is to be averted.

“Dealing with waste sustainably is crucial to the future of Scotland and the future of the planet,” he said.

“Our performance on waste has improved considerably, with notable progress on recycling and reducing the amount of waste going to landfill, but there is still much to be done to meet our goal of a zero waste Scotland.”

He hopes community groups will snap up the bounty on offer.

“The voluntary sector, which has come up with some of the most creative waste solutions to date, will continue to play an invaluable role in helping us achieve our ambitious targets,” he continued.

“That is why the Scottish Government is making £2.5 million a year available over the next three years to support community recycling projects.

“We are now seeking innovative applications from not-for-profit projects which work to reduce, reuse and re-cycle waste.”

He continued, “Our new Zero Waste Think Tank, which will bring together the best possible expertise, meets for the first time later this month.

“I have specifically asked this group to look at what legislative steps we might need to take to achieve a zero waste Scotland.”

The minister stressed every resident of Scotland has a role to play if recycling rates are to be improved.

“A commitment to recycle more is one of the pledges we have asked people to make as part of our Greener Scotland campaign,” he said.

“Only by all working together—individuals, communities, businesses and government—will we truly be able to achieve zero waste.”

Leading green campaigners from all over Scotland attended the CRNS conference at Perth Concert Hall.

A number of experts argued recycling rates throughout the world must be dramatically increased in a bid to safeguard the planet’s long-term future.

Among the most prominent speakers addressing the delegates in Perth was Peter Jones, director of Biffa Waste Services.

“We are all now drinking in the last chance saloon as far as carbon and resource efficiency is concerned,” he said.

“Scotland is now demonstrating clear political will to be in the vanguard of the emergent low carbon industrial revolution on a scale to match its contribution to the first industrial revolution.”

The conference also incorporated the More Than Recycling awards and conference, which recognises Scotland’s community recycling projects.

Shetland-based Enviroglass, Highland Council and Moray Recycling Action Group’s The Green Home came top against 42 organisations from across the country.

Recognising excellence in the categories of innovation, local authority partnership and member of the year, the CRNS’s More Than Recycling awards recognise those projects that have made a real impact in Scottish community recycling over the past year.

Showcasing the sector’s aim to provide alternative recycling solutions, this year’s Innovation Award was won by Shetland Amenity Trust’s Enviroglass— a project that has virtually eliminated Shetland’s waste glass problem by using it all in the manufacture of paving slabs.

Highland Council bagged the local authority partner- ship award for its continued support for the community recycling sector through waste diversion agreements, which will divert 4000 tonnes of waste from landfill disposal in 2007-08.

The CRNS member of the year award went to Moray Recycling Action Group, for its furniture re-use project The Green Home.

The project collects all types of unwanted house- hold items and re-allocates them through its Buckie-based retail outlets.