An increase in recycling household food waste could be key against climate change, according to a new report.

The study by Zero Waste Scotland has revealed household waste accounts for 57% of Scotland's carbon impact from waste despite only accounting for 25% of all Scottish waste.

The Carbon Metric tool shows that a combination of waste reduction and sustainable waste management could be a critical aspect of slowing global warming.

Zero Waste Scotland believes action needs to be taken now as carbon waste from food was increasing from 15% in 2014 to 17% in 2015.

Textile waste from clothing also had a high impact.

It accounted for just 0.2% of waste but 4% of waste impact in 2014, and 0.3% of waste but 5% of waste impact in 2015.

Zero Waste Scotland chief executive Iain Gulland said: "Our ground-breaking carbon metric shows that recycling continues to have an important part to play in the fight against climate change.

"If Scottish households recycled just 10% more of their waste, we would save over 148,000 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of over 22,000 flights around the world.

"This should be a tonic to those who do all they can to reduce and recycle waste and it should encourage others to strive for more."

He added: "Reducing or recycling food waste and re-using our old clothes are simple actions that have a big environmental benefit.

"It's important during national Recycle Week that we all take the chance to see what more we can do."