New policy briefing says England must build on progress made under the 2018 Resources and Waste Strategy and set out a long-term plan to support investment, resource security and economic growth

CIWM is calling on the Government to set a clear new strategic direction for England’s resources and waste sector, providing the long-term certainty needed to plan and invest for the 2030s and beyond.

The call is made in a new policy briefing, A New Strategic Direction for the Resources and Waste Sector in England, which sets out clear opportunities and priorities for the next generation of resources and waste policy. While primarily focused on England, the briefing also highlights areas where strong coordination with Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales will be important. 

With the 2018 Resources and Waste Strategy entering its final implementation phase, CIWM says it is time to articulate a new strategy covering at least the period of the Sixth Carbon Budget (2033–37) and ideally extending to 2042, when the long-term residual waste reduction target falls. This would give the sector sufficient lead time to plan for and invest in the required changes. 

The briefing recognises the progress made under the 2018 strategy, with Defra expecting England to achieve 90–100% of its 2030 interim waste reduction target. However, CIWM argues that the next generation of policy measures must build on this progress and deliver on its economic, social and environmental potential. The sector will support the wider delayed Circular Economy Growth Plan, while still requiring a specific resources and waste sector roadmap.

At its heart is a call for Government to work with our sector to set out both a clear long-term vision and the specific policy mechanisms, including financial and fiscal incentives, needed to deliver it. 

CIWM says a next-generation resources and waste strategy must continue to improve recycling and accelerate the decarbonisation of residual waste management, while going significantly further. In particular, it calls for the strategy to:

• Go beyond packaging and food waste, extending the focus to other high-impact materials including textiles, electrical and electronic equipment and construction and demolition waste.
• Go beyond recycling to incentivise reuse and reduction, supporting repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing and product lifetime extension.
• Go beyond consistent and improved collections, creating stronger domestic demand for recycled materials and reused products and encouraging investment in UK reprocessing, refurbishment and remanufacturing.
• Go beyond environmental goals, recognising the strategic role resource management can play in economic resilience and security, reindustrialisation, social value and skilled employment.
• Tackle health and safety and waste crime, ensuring these core issues are improved and do not undermine progress across the sector.
• Stick to the plan, with realistic, achievable policies and consistent implementation that give businesses and investors confidence. 

The briefing argues that this broader economic role is becoming increasingly important as geopolitical uncertainty and disruption to international supply chains place greater emphasis on resource security. It also highlights the opportunity to retain more value within the UK by developing stronger domestic markets for secondary materials and reused products, supporting investment in reprocessing, refurbishment and remanufacturing and creating skilled jobs. 

Dan Cooke, CIWM Director of Policy, Communications and External Affairs, said: “There has been significant and welcome progress under the 2018 Resources and Waste Strategy, but we now need to look ahead and provide this vital sector with a clear sense of direction for the 2030s.

“We hope to see a high-level and ambitious Circular Economy Growth Plan published soon, but this sector needs a coherent strategic roadmap to deliver on its potential and continue the strong progress made over recent years towards greater UK resource efficiency.

“The next strategy must build on what has already been achieved while broadening our ambition beyond recycling, renewable energy and better collections. 

Marcus Gover, Chair of CIWM’s Policy & Innovation Forum, said: “Businesses and local authorities need sufficient certainty and lead-in time to invest in critical infrastructure and improved services, and a clear, achievable long-term strategy can provide that confidence while helping to strengthen resource security, support economic growth and create more skilled jobs.”

The briefing concludes that, with the right policy support, the resources and waste sector can play a critical role in supporting UK economic growth and security, creating skilled careers and enabling and revitalising strong local economies.

Read the full briefing: A New Strategic Direction for the Resources and Waste Sector in England.