Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, is the latest chief executive to take the chief encounters hotseat
What is your morning routine?
I’m an early riser, enjoy a good breakfast and then a seven-and-a-half mile cycle to work – come rain or shine (usually!)
What is the first thing you do in your office?
I usually have half an hour before any early meetings so I email people all the things I’ve thought about on my cycle in.
How many hours do you normally work in a day?
It varies. But probably more than I should!
I wouldn’t claim I have completely avoided plastic bags,, they still exist, but I always have my re-useable bags when I go shopping.
Are you surprised how successful the 5p charge has been?
Not at all surprised. It’s a simple, effective behaviour change measure that has been clearly linked with litter reduction and tackling a symbolic element of throwaway culture, from the start by the Scottish Government. I’m delighted though with the extent to which Scots have embraced the charge and how many have switched to bringing re-usable bags to the shops.
How many plastic bags do you think you have you used this year?
Personally, not many at all. I wouldn’t claim I have completely avoided them, they still exist, but I always have my re-useable bags when I go shopping.
Do you know how many charities have benefitted?
We’re encouraging all retailers in Scotland to sign up to the Carrier Bag Commitment, which is a great way to record data about bags given out and commit to donate the proceeds to good causes. That data is still coming in but so far around 80 retailers have made the commitment.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever done?
I honestly can’t recall ever having a bad job. But when I first started in waste management at East Lothian Council I was asked to go through 100 bins worth of rubbish to analyse what people were throwing out. That was a real rite of passage.
If you were your boss would you like you?
Of course!
What was the last thing you did that scared you?
Kid’s parents evening – you never know what you’re going to find out.
Would your 18-year-old self be impressed with where you are now?
Definitely. What 18-year-old lad knows where he’s going to end up? Though I grew up in Alloa, so I probably didn’t expect to be working just down the road in Stirling.
What do you want for Christmas?
Snow…doesn’t everybody. I love sledging.
Brian Denis Cox or Brian Edward Cox?
I don’t watch a lot of TV, but physics, and the relationship it has to the way our world works, and how it could work in the future fascinates me, so I’d have to go with Brian Edward Cox.
