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The Scottish government has called on retailers to assume "key responsibilities", such as reducing packaging, to help the country achieve "tough new targets" to improve recycling and reduce landfill.

Environment secretary Richard Lochhead announced a £7.5m investment in community recycling projects over the next three years, and proposed a target of 70% of municipal waste to be recycled or composted by 2025.

Only 5% should be sent to landfill, as the remaining 25% is to be used for energy.

The current recycling rate for municipal waste in Scotland is 29.8%.

Lochhead said he was committed to the current target of stopping the growth in waste by 2010, and said householders could "play their part", by rejecting junk mail and reusing carrier bags.

"Retailers also have key responsibilities in this area, such as reducing packaging, working with government on reducing unnecessary use of plastic bags and encouraging their suppliers to prepare products that minimise waste and can be recycled," he added.

Lochhead also expressed a preference for "smaller, more efficient" plants rather than "large, inefficient, 'white elephant' incinerators".