Introduction

RAGS is a national organisation, established in 1993, which co-ordinates the promotion of recycling and associated issues in Scotland.

It is an innovative body committed to the development of a culture of waste management which fully integrates waste reduction, reuse, recycling and education on waste for a sustainable future.

Made up of a membership the key organisations involved in recycling in Scotland, including local authorities, community recycling groups, private waste management companies and government agencies, it offers networking and formal discussion as a way of exchanging information and best practice so as to assist in the delivery of more sustainable waste management practices.

RAGS had a testing year in 2004 which required some difficult decisions to be taken and resulted in RAGS having limited resources available to act on members behalf. However these issues have now been resolved and a renewed RAGS has been launched. With a renewed focus on our members, providing effective communication between the Public, Private and Community sectors,

Four key objectives for RAGS have been set by the RAGS executive for 2005/ 06:

• Demonstrate & enhance the relevance of RAGS to members
• Develop effective systems for disseminating information to members
• Facilitate enhanced networking opportunities for members
• Attract new members

RAGS thanks its members for its support throughout this period and have now relaunched the 2005 membership with improved levels of service. Further changes will be made throughout the year as we progressively ramp up services.

Major Functions

RAGS organises an annual programme of conferences and seminars which tackle a variety of waste management issues. Topics which have been addressed to date include:

Integrated Waste Management, Producer Responsibility and Packaging, Markets for Recyclable Materials, Waste Minimisation, Potential Job Creation from Increased Recycling, Successful Kerbside Strategies and Public Education.

Speakers are invited from a range of key organisations throughout Scotland and the UK.

RAGS also provides an information database and enquiry service as well as publishing the RAGS newsletter which is used as an important vehicle for the dissemination of information and opinion on activities and initiatives in Scotland.

Specific Projects

Specific projects we have undertaken include:

• Production of an educational video and teachers pack for Scottish Primary Schools
• Development of resources to promote waste engine oil recycling
• Nationwide press and radio campaigns to promote recycling
• Promotion of market development forum with UK materials recycling organisations
• Establishment of an information database
• Establishment of the Community Recycling Network for Scotland
• Production of a report to evaluate the potential for increasing the collection of glass from commercial premises
• Production of a report into the potential options for the collection of HHW in Scotland