Last week Matt Lewis and I attended a Zero Waste Scotland workshop to promote its new Volunteer and Community Advocate programme which replaces the previous volunteer programme.  An extra dimension is the Advocate element, which calls for either a local individual or group to take forward the zero waste message using existing spheres of influence. This should firmly root the zero waste message in the community, but there’s an element of ambiguity which might prove a challenge in practice. 

A new bill introduced to the Scottish Parliament could see Scotland adopt a new tax to replace UK Landfill Tax from April 2015 while providing more support to communities.

CRNS members were strongly represented at an event at the Scottish Parliament last Friday.  Entitled The Future is Local, the event focused on Scotland’s community sector. CNRS Chair Paul Johnston chaired the workshop which asked if communities can run public services. The answer was of course in the affirmative, supported by strong evidence from James Dunbar of New Start Highland.  Genius idea of the organisers to keep Lesley Riddoch for the plenary session – sometimes the dullest part of a conference – which she enlivened by her impassioned and controversial interjections. 

CRNS has signed up to a new Scottish Government-backed commitment to help SMEs and other businesses to reduce waste and recycle more.  

Today nine CRNS members were presented with their Revolve certificates by Zero Waste Scotland’s Iain Gulland at a celebratory accreditation event.  It was chatty and informal, and a great excuse to get everyone together to exchange experiences and information about the achievement of Scotland's re-use standard.

There was a good supporting piece in Sunday's Herald promoting re-use and Revolve and featuring Recyke-a-bike and Edinburgh Furniture Initiative.

The Scottish Welfare Fund  

The new Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF) has replaced the Department for Work and Pensions's Social Fund which included Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans for living expenses.

Community Jobs Scotland is now open for another round of applications from third sector employers.