This paper offers an account of how zero waste governance ‘works’
in Scotland. Zero waste has been widely adopted by governments as a policy
goal; yet, the term remains equivocal. Using Scotland as a case study, this
paper investigates how zero waste is understood and pursued as a policy goal
within a national context and how socio-political factors shape zero waste
governance. Providing the first academic study of waste governance in
Scotland, the paper introduces key actors, initiatives and objectives from zero
waste policy documents. Using conceptual insights from waste governance
research, the paper identifies the importance of boundary organisations,
networks, existing institutions, expertise, and stakeholder engagement in
shaping the zero waste policy in Scotland. Through these concepts, the paper
presents an account of how zero waste governance works in Scotland and offers
potential themes to further zero waste governance research.