Research: EPR in the Scottish Highlands and Islands

30 April 2025

Wanting to support a just transition around the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, Zero Waste Scotland commissioned Resource Futures to build an evidence base of research exploring the challenges and opportunities that will come of implementing EPR for packaging, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), and batteries in Highlands and Islands local authority areas in Scotland.

The report offers findings of a qualitative study into the five Highlands and Islands local LA ‘focus areas’: Orkney Council, Shetland Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council), Argyll and Bute Council and the Highland Council. As these cover largely remote and very rural areas – with low population density as well as accessibility and infrastructure challenges – these communities face unique challenges and considerations in delivering waste, recycling and material recovery services.

Access the research