This Bill requires Scottish Ministers to introduce measures to help develop a circular economy. This includes:
This is a Government bill
The Bill became an Act on 8 August 2024
This Bill was passed and is now an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
The Scottish Government believes that the principles of a circular economy are to:
This Bill aims to introduce measures to help Scotland develop a circular economy. This includes:
The Scottish Government has introduced the Bill to make steps towards creating a circular economy in Scotland. It hopes that modernising waste and recycling services will help tackle the climate emergency and the biodiversity crisis. Introducing a circular economy strategy and targets will mean that progress towards reaching a circular economy is monitored.
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill as introduced (2MB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023
Explanatory Notes (216KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023
Policy Memorandum (397KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023
Financial Memorandum (411KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023
Delegated Powers Memorandum (291KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023
Statements on legislative competence (108KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023
Explanatory Notes (299KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023
Policy Memorandum (460KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023
Financial Memorandum (412KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023
Delegated Powers Memorandum (394KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023
Statements on legislative competence (150KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2023
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
This Bill requires Crown consent. It is expected that this consent will be signified at Stage 3.
Crown consent is a process which requires Scottish Government ministers to seek the consent of the Crown in relation to certain Bills. You can find out more in About Bills.
The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is required for this Bill.
For each Bill, the Presiding Officer must decide if a 'Financial Resolution' is required. The main reasons a Bill would need a Financial Resolution are that:
If a Bill requires a Financial Resolution:
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
The Bill was introduced on 13 June 2023
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
On 28 June 2023, Parliament agreed motion S6M-09754, that consideration of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 be completed by 26 January 2024.
On 20 December 2023, Parliament agreed motion S6M-11724, that consideration of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 be extended to 8 March 2024.
On 28 February 2024, Parliament agreed motion S6M-12321, that consideration of the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill at stage 1 be extended to 22 March 2024.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee held a call for views to help inform its examination of the Bill.
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Submission from Kathryn Gill, Policy and Advocacy Officer, Consumer Scotland, 15 April 2024
Letter from various non-governmental organisations, 11 April 2024
Letter from the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, 4 April 2024
Letter from the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, 14 March 2024
Letter from the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, 18 January 2024
See a full list of Stage 1 correspondence for this committee
The Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee published its report on 28 February 2024.
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill Stage 1 Report
The Committee received the following response to its report:
Letter from the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity (390KB, pdf) posted 14 March 2024
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee published its report on 2 November 2023.
Letter from the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity to the Convener, 13 October 2023
Letter from the Convener to the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, 5 October 2023
Read the Official Report of the meeting
The Finance and Public Administration Committee published its report on 30 November 2023.
Letter from the Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity to the Convener of 14 March 2024
A Stage 1 debate took place on 20 March 2024 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.
See further details of the motion
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 20 March 2024
At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them.
Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 7 May 2024:
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (1MB, pdf) posted 01 May 2024
Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (252KB, pdf) posted 01 May 2024
Read the agenda, papers and minutes for this meeting
Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 14 May 2024:
Second Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (1MB, pdf) posted 09 May 2024
Second Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (1MB, pdf) posted 09 May 2024
Read the agenda, papers and minutes for this meeting
Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 21 May 2024:
Third Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (1MB, pdf) posted 16 May 2024
Third Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (387KB, pdf) posted 16 May 2024
Read the agenda, papers and minutes for this meeting
Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 28 May 2024:
Fourth Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (395KB, pdf) posted 21 May 2024
Fourth Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (333KB, pdf) posted 21 May 2024
Read the agenda, papers and minutes for this meeting
A Stage 2 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been lodged at Stage 2 (or, if the Stage is mid-way through, all those still to be dealt with). They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the convener and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
Letter from the Minister for Climate Action
Letter from the Minister for Climate Action, 6 June 2024
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill as amended at Stage 2 (2MB, pdf) posted 28 May 2024
Revised Explanatory Notes (227KB, pdf) posted 11 June 2024
Supplementary Financial Memorandum (156KB, pdf) posted 12 June 2024
Supplementary Delegated Powers Memorandum (127KB, pdf) posted 12 June 2024
Revised Explanatory Notes (342KB, pdf) posted 10 June 2024
Supplementary Financial Memorandum (357KB, pdf) posted 11 June 2024
Supplementary Delegated Powers Memorandum (236KB, pdf) posted 11 June 2024
Sometimes an amendment at Stage 2 makes substantial changes to a bill. If this happens, the Accompanying Documents need to be updated to explain what these changes are.
The Bill ended Stage 2 on 28 May 2024
At Stage 3, MSPs can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all MSPs can vote on them. There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law.
Read additional research done by the Scottish Parliament on the Bill:
Briefing on the Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill prior to Stage 3
Documents with the amendments considered at the meeting on 25 June 2024:
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 3 (361KB, pdf) posted 19 June 2024
Timed Groupings of Amendments for Stage 3 (968KB, pdf) posted 24 June 2024
Read the Official Report of the meeting
Watch the meeting on Scottish Parliament TV
A Stage 3 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been proposed at Stage 3 and that have been selected by the Presiding Officer. They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the Presiding Officer and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
‘Timed Groupings’ are usually produced at Stage 3 and set out how long Parliament expects to spend debating the groups of amendments.
Letter from the Minister for Climate Action, 18 June 2024
Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.
Result 116 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote Vote Passed
See further details of the motion
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill as passed (2MB, pdf) posted 26 June 2024
The Bill ended Stage 3 on 26 June 2024
The Bill was passed on 26 June 2024 and became an Act on 8 August 2024.