The Scottish Wildlife Trust has stressed the environmental benefits of the landfill tax, as Scotland prepares to gain the power to manage it.

The responsibility for landfill tax will be devolved to the Scottish Parliament, starting in 2015. The Scottish Government has today launched a consultation about the charges and rules which will govern the new system.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust has welcomed the consultation. This green tax compensates for the hidden costs to the environment resulting from modern lifestyles which generate a vast amount of waste, ending up as landfill. 

Scottish Wildlife Trust Head of Policy Dr. Maggie Keegan said:

“In the past these funds have been hugely important in implementing community based environmental projects which benefit biodiversity and people alike such as woodland restoration and increased local access to greenspace. We hope that this remains the case when the tax is devolved. The benefits of giving something back to communities close to landfill sites don’t stop there; improving the natural environment creates jobs, increases the quality of local greenspace and delivers ecosystem services such as better air and water quality.”