A new £5m scheme to bring plastics recycling closer to home has been announced by Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead in his first keynote speech on waste in 2009.

With most of the plastics collected here being processed south of the border or overseas in countries such as China, the capital grants scheme seeks to improve recycling infrastructure in Scotland.

Mr Lochhead was speaking at the 'Zero Waste' conference in Edinburgh where he also outlined his priorities for the coming year.

Mr Lochead said the next 12 months are going to be hugely significant for the Scottish Government's aspirations to see this country become a zero waste society.

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"Our National Waste Plan will be revised and we will be working to significantly increase public awareness of waste issues, including carrier bags, food waste and packaging.

"I would also expect to see further improvement on recycling and landfilling rates as we approach our first target of having 40 per cent of municipal waste recycled or composted by 2010."

Mr Lochead wants to see an improved infrastructure for plastic in Scotland and hopes that the new scheme will kick off significant investment in this area.

"Getting these operations up and running will not just be a boost to the environment, there are considerable economic benefits including job creation to be taken advantage of – particularly welcome in these difficult economic times," he said.

WRAP (Waste and Resource Action Programme) Scotland will administer the scheme, the precise detail of which will be finalised with CoSLA shortly.

(GK/JM)