Resources and Waste Strategy
Overview
The Resources and Waste Strategy (RWS) was published in December 2018 and sets out the actions the government aims to take to preserve material resources by minimising waste, promoting resource efficiency and moving towards a Circular Economy in England[1]. It also sets long term policy direction in line with the 25- Year Environment Plan including doubling resource productivity and eliminating avoidable waste of all kinds by 2050[1].
Chapter 1 - Sustainable Production
The chapter highlights the damage inflicted upon the environment when products become waste but which could be avoided if more well thought out decisions are made at product/material production stage.
The chapter sets out how the government aims to[1]:
- invoke the ‘polluter pays’ principle and extend producer responsibility for packaging, ensuring that producers pay the full costs of disposal for packaging they place on the market
- stimulate demand for recycled plastic by introducing a tax on plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled plastic
- harness the potential of extended producer responsibility for other product types
- set minimum requirements through ecodesign to encourage resource efficient product design
- manage chemicals sustainably and address barriers to reuse and recycling posed by their use, through a Chemicals Strategy
- develop a model for realising resource efficiency savings, working with businesses through ‘resource efficiency clusters’
Chapter 2 - Helping consumers take more considered actions
This chapter discusses how the government aims to help consumers choose and use more sustainable products, including how to extend the lives of products through repair, reuse and remanufacture and to encourage consumers to recycle the materials that the products contain and to then dispose of them in the most environmentally sensitive way[1].
The chapter sets out how the government aims to[1]:
- incentivise consumers to purchase sustainably
- provide consumers with better information on the sustainability of their purchases
- ban plastic products where there is a clear case for it and alternatives exist
- address barriers to reuse
- support the market for remanufactured goods
- encourage appropriate disposal of used products
- lead by example though procurement and the Greening Government Commitments
Chapter 3 - Resource Recovery and Waste Management
This chapter discusses the need to drive better quantity and quality in recycling , and more investment in domestic recycled materials markets[1]. It highlights the governments support towards comprehensive and frequent waste collections and their drive to assist local authorities and waste management companies to act in the most sustainable and resource-efficient way as possible. It also aims to promote UK-based recycling and export less waste to be processed abroad[1].
The chapter sets out how DEFRA aims to[1]:
- improve recycling rates by ensuring a consistent set of dry recyclable materials is collected from all households and businesses
- reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfill by ensuring that every householder and appropriate businesses have a weekly separate food waste collection, subject to consultation
- improve urban recycling rates, working with business and local authorities
- improve working arrangements and performance between local authorities
- drive greater efficiency of Energy from Waste (EfW) plants
- address information barriers to the use of secondary materials
- encourage waste producers and managers to implement the waste hierarchy in respect to hazardous waste.
Chapter 4 - Tackling waste crime
This chapter focuses on the costs to the economy of waste related criminal activity and the impact on the environment and local communities by this behaviour[1].
The chapter sets out how DEFRA aims to[1]:
- improve the transport, management and description of waste by reforming existing regulations
- strengthen intelligence sharing and engagement to tackle illegal activity
- prevent illegal activity being hidden through waste exemptions by reforming the existing regime
- mandate the digital recording of waste movements, subject to consultation
- create a Joint Unit for Waste Crime
- toughen penalties for waste criminals
- increase awareness of waste regulations and publicise positive work of enforcement bodies as they tackle waste crime.
Chapter 5 - Cutting down on Food Waste
This chapter sets out how the government aims to tackle Food Waste and the issues surrounding growing and producing excess food waste which costs money and damges the Earth's ecosystems when it is disposed of. The chapter also considers the greenhouse gas emissions associated with food and drink, suggesting that a fifth of UK greenhouse gas emissions are associated with food and drink, (with most created during the production (agriculture and manufacturing) processes)[1].
The chapter also highlights DEFRA's committment to reducing England's carbon footprint and meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals to halve food waste at consumer and retail levels by 2030.
The chapter sets out how DEFRA will[1]:
- more effectively redistribute food to those who need it most before it can go to waste
- consult on annual reporting of food surplus and waste by food businesses
- consult on legal powers to introduce food waste targets and surplus food redistribution obligations
- publish a new food surplus and waste hierarchy
- promote awareness of the issue by appointing a new food waste champion
- support cross sector collaboration through the Courtauld 2025 agreement
Chapter 6 - Global Britain: international leadership
This chapter discusses the concerns over resources and waste managmeent cutting across continents and oceans and that the actions which are needed to tackle them require a broad coalition and international leadership[1].
The chapter sets out how the government will[1]:
- promote the goals of our Resources and Waste Strategy internationally
- drive international political commitments through the ground-breaking Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance
- support developing nations to tackle pollution and reduce plastic waste, including through UK aid
- improve the quality of plastics exported for recycling through the Basel and Stockholm Conventions
- establish cross-government oversight of the UK’s natural resource security.
Chapter 7 - Research and innovation
This chapter dicusses the importance of innovation and the need to develop novel solutions and to improve the efficiency, cost and/or effectiveness of exisitng technologies and how the government will support industries and academia to stimulate innovation[1].
The chapter sets out how the government will[1]:
- support further investment and innovation in resource efficiency, working with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) on our Areas of Research Interest
- launch a call for evidence on the development of standards for bio-based and biodegradable plastics
- support further investment in resource efficient technologies, including through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund
- support the Waste and Resources Action Programme
- encourage innovative waste treatment technologies that create transport fuels through the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO)
Chapter 8 - Measuring progress: data, monitoring and evaluation
This chapter highlights the importance of high quality data, information and insights to effective policy making.
The chapter sets out how the government will[1]:
- work with our partners and stakeholders to develop a shared vision and bold new approach to data on resources and waste
- move away from weight-based towards impact-based targets and reporting, focusing initially on carbon and natural capital accounting
- maintain the coverage and quality of local authority-collected waste and improve data collection to meet future needs
- work with tech firms to develop innovative digital solutions for tracking waste, and consult on options to mandate the digital recording and sharing of waste movement data.