Argyll and Bute Council has reported a significant reduction in carbon emissions, with total emissions falling by 7.9% during 2024/25 and by 35.8% since the Council's 2015/16 baseline year.
The Council’s Policy and Resources Committee on Thursday commended this performance and continued long-term reduction in carbon emissions.
The latest figures show the Council's emissions reduced to 25,340 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), reversing the increase reported in the previous year and demonstrating continued progress towards climate goals.
A major factor in the reduction has been the move away from landfill following the introduction of Scotland's ban on landfilling biodegradable municipal waste. Residual waste is now being processed through Energy from Waste facilities, where waste is used to generate energy rather than producing methane emissions associated with landfill. This change contributed to an 11.5% reduction in Scope 3 emissions, which cover indirect emissions arising from activities such as waste disposal.
The Council's directly controlled emissions also continued to improve through ongoing investment in energy efficiency measures, low-carbon heating systems, LED lighting upgrades, and solar photovoltaic installations across its estate.
Some fine examples of delivery, partnership and engagement work include:
- Cardross Primary School becoming the first primary school in the world to achieve Bronze Carbon Literate Educator status:
- In FQ4 2025/26, Council-wide waste recycling, composting and recovery reaching 95.3%, comprising 41.3% recycling and composting and 54% recovery; and
- A Drax Foundation-funded 24 kWp solar PV system being installed at Taynuilt Primary School.
Councillor Luna Martin, Policy Lead for Climate Change and Environment, said: "We are pleased to see a substantial reduction in the Council's carbon emissions. This reflects the hard work taking place across services to improve energy efficiency, invest in low-carbon technologies and transform how we manage waste. While there is still much to do, these results show that meaningful action can deliver significant environmental benefits."
The Council is currently developing a new Carbon Management Plan 2026 to support further emissions reductions and ensure compliance with Scotland's evolving climate change requirements.
Read the full report on the Council's website.
