UK aims for zero waste, with 75% reuse/recycling in 10 years

Britain is setting out to become a zero-waste nation, according to Environment Secretary Hilary Benn.

“We need to rethink how we view and treat waste in the UK,” Benn said at a summit of local authorities and waste industry representatives. “Why do we send valuable items like aluminium and food waste to landfill when we can turn them into new cans and renewable energy? Why use more resources than we need to in manufacturing?  We must now work together to build a zero-waste nation — where we reduce the resources we use, reuse and recycle all that we can and only landfill things that have absolutely no other use.”

Benn added, “To do this all of us — government, local authorities, businesses and consumers — must do our bit. And we must make this moment the turning point on our journey to eliminate wasteful waste.”

Benn said he supports an updated BSI sustainable event standard to ensure the events industry considers the social, economic and environmental impacts of its activities.

“Using new technologies will help us to re-use things, for example anaerobic digestion that creates energy from food and farm waste,” he said. “And businesses can apply the technology at their fingertips to design innovative products that use less resources or contain recycled materials.”

Benn said he envisions that, within 10 years, “75 per cent of household waste will either be recycled or used for energy, and over time this figure will increase even further. Aiming for zero waste is the way we have to think to get us to where we need to be.”

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government John Denham added, “If we continue to send recyclable or compostable waste to landfill we are missing a major opportunity to generate heat and energy and missing an opportunity to turn that waste into money. We can save planet whilst keeping money in residents’ pockets.”

In setting out his vision for how the UK can become a zero-waste nation, Benn said:

• England should more than halve the amount of waste going to landfill in the next 10 years — early next year, the government plans to consult on what recyclable and compostable items should be banned from landfill and how a ban will work.
• Six new Zero Waste Places will be created in parts of Shropshire, Dorchester, Brixton, Newham, Hoxton and Suffolk to develop innovative ideas to cut waste in the home, workplace and community.
• A new Zero Waste Places Standard for Local Authorities will also recognise areas which are going above and beyond national waste targets while supporting them with small grants for further development.
• New research out today shows it is possible to divert 500,000 tonnes of household waste per year through re-using it.
• Later this month, a new public campaign will be launched aimed at encouraging people to rethink their approach to waste by reducing and reusing the waste they create as well continuing to recycle as much as they can.
• The government expects local authorities to offer a full collection service for all recyclable items by 2020. This should include paper, card, cans, glass and plastic bottles, food and packaging. Local authorities will also be encouraged to collect food waste to make use of the technology and funding available to them to harness the power of energy from waste.
• The government also plans to publish its aims and actions for commercial and industrial waste in England. This will help businesses to use resources more efficiently and encourage them to think about what they do with their waste as well as delivering benefits for the environment. Actions cover four areas: helping business; working with the waste management industry; plugging the data gap; and encouraging innovative approaches.