Since the launch of the SME Loan Scheme in its current form in 2013, 594 loans have been paid to aid businesses to implement energy efficiency measures.

SME Energy Efficiency loan paid number and value by FY budgets as at 30 th September 2020

Details of projects awarded funding through the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) since 2015 are available below and on the LCITP website.

https://www.gov.scot/policies/renewable-and-low-carbon-energy/
low-carbon-infrastructure-transition-programme/ .

The measures identified and committed to under the four action areas of the Food Waste Reduction Action Plan represent the outcome of the stakeholder workshops delivered by Zero Waste Scotland. The environmental and economic benefits of food waste prevention remain as important as ever as we deal with, and recover from, COVID-19 and a full review of progress against the commitments in the Food Waste Reduction Action Plan will be published in 2021.

In terms of measurement, we refer to response S5W-32336, on 10 November 2020, S5W-32200 on 30 October 2020, and S5W-32198 on 30 October 2020, which highlight that annual data is not currently collected or held centrally for the categories identified in this question; however, actions to develop monitoring and reporting infrastructure, together with improvement in measurement methodologies, will support an enhanced capacity for food waste and surplus measurement and reporting going forward.A full review of the Food Waste Reduction Action Plan progress is scheduled for 2021.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Since 2016, nine projects have been formally supported, through Zero Waste Scotland’s Circular Economy Investment Fund, that utilise food and drink waste or by-products. Since 2016, Zero Waste Scotland’s Circular Economy Business Support Service has supported 15 SMEs in the pursuit of turning food waste or food by-product into secondary products. Additionally, support has been provided to targeted sectors under Zero Waste Scotland’s Food and Drink Advice and Support Service through the provision of food waste audits. Food waste audits have been provided to 30 bakeries and 10 breweries, identifying the opportunity to provide waste bread to breweries as a malt replacement in brewing amongst other waste prevention measures, including redistribution opportunities.

The Scottish Government has regular dialogue with organisations across all levels of football to discuss a wide range of issues, including community and amateur football.

Further to the answer S5W-31925, the Scottish Government, through Zero Waste Scotland, has established three re-use hubs. The purpose of these hubs is to capture material that would otherwise have been disposed of thereby contributing to the aim in Making Things Last: A Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland “to encourage increased capture rates, to deliver economies of scale for the sector and to create recognised reuse superstores for consumers”.

Support remains available for further larger-scale facilities via the Circular Economy Investment Fund.

Annual data is not available for the quantities or types of all materials diverted, but that we do have some data for priority materials. Materials that could have ended up in the food waste stream have been diverted through redistribution to people, to animals or to the bioeconomy. Zero Waste Scotland launched their Food Redistribution Matchmaking Service in July 2020 and this service looks to partner redistribution organisations with businesses who have surplus edible food to feed people.

Distillery by-products are an important feed for the livestock sector. In 2019 for instance, 112,000 tonnes of whisky by-products was diverted to animal feed. Food surplus from manufacturing, retail and hospitality and food service is also diverted to produce animal feed, 660,000 tonnes across the UK in 2015.

Fareshare receives some financial support from the Scottish Government and since 2014 has redistributed over 10,000 tonnes of surplus to people and away from the waste stream.

The response to S5W-32342 provides details of Zero Waste Scotland’s Circular Economy Investment Fund, Circular Economy business Support Service and Food and Drink Advice and Support Services that relates to materials being diverted to the bio economy and therefore not entering the waste stream.

Inedible food waste that cannot be utilised for purposes higher up the hierarchy of food should be diverted to anaerobic digestion, composting and landspreading. Estimates of quantities of materials diverted from the food waste stream through anaerobic digestion and composting are shown in the table below:

This information is not held centrally. The Scottish Institute for Remanufacture (SIR) has enabled 23 companies to deploy new manufacturing technologies and processes into their businesses in Scotland. The SIR and the University of Strathclyde have also worked with standard setting bodies to develop remanufacturing standards, influenced the creation of the European Remanufacturing Council, and had involvement with product specific steering committees.

As outlined under the response to S5W-32198 on 30 October 2020, we currently do not hold food waste data at a sector-specific level, and it is therefore not possible to determine accurate national estimates of food waste specifically for schools or hospitals at this time. The developing actions and infrastructure described in the response to question S5W-32200 on 30 October 2020, together with improvement in measurement methodologies, will support an enhanced capacity for food waste measurement and reporting going forward.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx