Government gives more details on islands green recovery fund

Zero Waste Scotland is one of the organisations administering parts of the programme.

Zero Waste Scotland is one of the organisations administering parts of the programme.

THE SCOTTISH Government has released more information on how a recently announced £2 million islands green recovery programme will be used to stimulate economic activity in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Islands minister Paul Wheelhouse described the programme as “locally-led” and said it was now open for applications.

The £2 million programme is split into four strands and managed by four partners:

• Zero Waste Scotland fund – £300,000 to introduce packaging free shops;
• Energy Saving Trust fund – £300,000 to support carbon neutral initiatives;
• Inspiring Scotland fund – £900,000 to support community recovery projects and
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise fund – £500,000 to support green economic recovery.

Part of the funding will be used to help independent food retailers and businesses introduce packaging-free shops and remove the need for disposable packaging.

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Sustainable travel initiatives, climate change projects and projects to improve local supply chains can also apply for funding, the government said.

Wheelhouse said: “We know that Covid-19 has had, and continues to have, a profound impact on our island communities.

“We want to use the learning from impacts encountered and solutions that have been identified during this pandemic to build the resilience of our island communities.

“We know being environmentally responsible and mitigating the effects of climate change can be more expensive for people living on our islands. This investment will also help reduce that financial burden and back projects that support sustainable, on-island employment.”