Syntegra boss Alan King is backing the implementation of a new framework aimed at tackling climate change by restructuring the waste industry.
Circular economy specialist Reconomy believes its 10-point regulatory framework will help drive the UK economy and help meet net-zero targets.
Steve Reed, the new secretary of state at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, identified the the “roadmap to move Britain to a zero-waste economy” as one of the Labour government’s five key priorities.
The framework aims to create a consistent, business-friendly regulatory market and Reconomy states that the benefits of a circular economy could boost the value of the UK economy by £82 billion and create up to 284,000 jobs in London alone by 2030.
The project was completed with sustainability consultant Sancroft and featured consultation with waste experts, public and private sector organisations.
The framework creates a consistent regulatory market within which businesses can operate and mitigate the negative environmental impacts of waste.
Its 10 ‘business-friendly’ principles aim to simplify the waste system and make it easier for consumers and industries to boost recycling rates and manage resources.
Features include:
- Creating national minimum standards to hold all waste providers to a new, higher sustainability standard;
- Devising a new national infrastructure strategy consistent with today’s needs;
- Developing nationally consistent and separate waste collection across the country;
- Increasing frequency of local authority recycling collections;
- Establishing a baseline data of waste figures to enable continuous monitoring;
- Implementing Extended Producer Responsibility schemes to shift the burden of waste management onto the producer;
- Introducing eco-design standards including mandatory returnable packaging;
- Ring-fencing EPR funding to provide investment and subsidies to stimulate demand;
- Digitising information to track resources digitally in real-time; and
- Creating an independent governing body to enact change.
Reconomy said its guidance addresses significant emissions issues from the waste sector, including energy-from-waste plants, accounting for 6% of UK GHG emissions and landfill emissions accounting for 60% of waste sector emissions.
Guy Wakeley, group chief executive of Reconomy, said: “To meet our climate objectives, protect finite resources and grow the economy, it is crucial that this new government takes steps to help businesses and communities improve resource management.
“The joint Reconomy and Sancroft project team has produced an actionable 10-point strategy of structured and consistent reforms. By following this we can simplify the waste system and generate much-needed investment in the system to move resources up the waste hierarchy.
“We look forward to working closely with businesses and the new government to realise our vision of a waste-free world and invite those interested to discuss this work with us in more detail.”
Alan King welcomed the new framework and called for its widespread adoption to kickstart the country’s drive to net-zero.
He said: “This document offers guidance around some excellent practical steps which could be taken in quick time to help tackle the climate crisis.
“Any small steps that can be taken in this waste sector are welcome as emissions levels are far too high.
“If this framework were to receive widespread support, the whole system would be simplified and the impact would be significant.
“Many of the solutions needed to move us forward towards net-zero are not rocket science and do not need to break the bank but organisations need to see tangible plans, how they can adopt them and the benefits they will bring to their daily operations and the wider community, in order to get on board. This framework provides exactly that level of detail so I’m encouraged by its introduction and hope take-up is good.”
