Chamber and committees

I have a very specific question about world heritage site designations. We have a range of world heritage sites in Scotland, but I am interested in the potential for further designations. Do the witnesses have any reflections on that? I know that St Andrews has been discussed in the past, but there might be other candidates.

It is on a new topic.

Yes. That would be very useful, I am sure.

My final question is about local recycling targets. Are they necessary, and should we be looking beyond recycling to other targets that reflect the waste hierarchy, such as reuse targets at local level? Is that something that local authorities would welcome?

I do, but I can come back in later on.

I want to ask about the wider point around charging for household waste collection—not just for special uplifts but for standard collections. There have been responses to the bill that have suggested that that works in Europe and that there are ways to do it in a way that is fair, such as through a save-as-you-recycle scheme. I want to get your opinions on that, because it is not currently a provision in the bill. Perhaps David McCulloch and then Brydon Gray will reflect on that.

Thanks. I want to ask about the funding and investment environment. How do we build in certainty for investment in the infrastructure that is going to be needed?

Could EPR be a game changer in terms of the investment that is needed? What is the most important signal on finance to send to industry and local authorities right now? [Interruption.]

Gail Macgregor, did you want to come in on that?

Are there any other views on that?

I will follow up on a couple of those points. I want to get your reflections on soft plastics. Plastic films are very difficult to recycle. I noticed that a plant had been set up in Fife to mechanically recover some of that material. If we are to significantly increase recycling, do we need to address the issue of soft plastics? Do we need to have a national facility or regional facilities?

The other issue that I want to ask about—I would like to get a Shetland perspective on this—is fishing gear. What is, in effect, ghost fishing gear has a big environmental impact. It lands on our beaches, and I am sure it lands on your beaches, too. Do you see the bill as having a role in dealing with that, or do you think that it should be part of the work of local authorities to deal with that, whether through a deposit scheme or enhanced regulation or standards in that area?