Business leaders yesterday called for the Scottish Government’s waste and recycling strategy to be based on “incentives rather than penalties”.

The FSB in Scotland revealed that 84 percent of its members are already recycling, compared with 43 percent in 2004, who they believe “changed their operations as a result of the threat from climate change”.

The FSB figures also said that 68 percent of its members used their local authorities’ facilities to recycle paper, while 63 percent recycled card in the same manner.

However, 40 percent of members said they were “dissatisfied” with the recycling facilities offered by local authorities, while small businesses claimed they were “unaware” of the facilities available.

Andy Willox, the FSB’s Scottish policy convenor, said: “These figures show that Scotland’s small firms have made great advances in improving recycling in recent years. That we have made such progress suggests we don’t need a heavy-handed legislative approach to raise recycling rates still further.

“Far more effective would be making recycling facilities more readily available and highlighting them to smaller firms.”

In its consultation response, the FSB added: “The fact that we have made such dramatic progress suggests that a legislative approach is not the right way to improve and risks alienating the goodwill that clearly exists in the small business community.”

Duncan McLaren, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said that more recycling facilities were required in the country, and the gaop in the market presented an opportunity for businesses.

He added: “I’m pleased to see the anecdotal experience I have about small businesses is backed up – a lot of them think climate change is a matter that they have to address.

“A majority are recycling their waste, which to my mind does not undermine the case for requiring all businesses to have some sort of waste plan.

“That needs to be proportionate, so sectors where large volumes of waste are not recycled are subjected to tougher requirements than those where the volumes and businesses are small.

“Evidence shows a judicious mix of incentives and penalties within a regulatory framework that gives a level playing field is the best way forward.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We welcome the valuable input from FSB on how we can achieve a ‘zero waste Scotland’.

“Its response to the summer consultation will be considered as we formulate the next steps.

“Businesses, the public sector and individuals all have a role to play in ensuring Scotland becomes a cleaner, greener place and dealing with waste is a huge part of that.”

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