Waste is a very significant issue – environmentally, socially and economically. Households and businesses in the UK produce more than 170 million tonnes of waste each year.

Currently, just over a third of UK waste is recycled – the rest is buried in landfill sites - which is not sustainable. 

As well as the potential effects of waste and landfill sites on public health, landscape and biodiversity, there is a link between waste and the greenhouse gas emissions linked to global climate change. Degrading waste on landfill sites produces methane and CO₂, while waste management and transportation adds to the UK’s carbon footprint.

Currently, the recycling of paper, glass, plastic, aluminium and steel in the UK saves an estimated 18 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, compared to primary material production. So reducing the amount of waste we produce, along with reuse and recycling, can play a major part in reducing the UK’s carbon emissions.

In July 2007 the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE) came into force, which should reduce the volume of electrical equipment going to landfill. Both the UK and Scottish Governments published new waste strategies during 2007, which seek to increase recycling and explore energy recovery from waste through small Combined Heat and Power schemes. Targets for the recycling of packaging waste will increase from 2008 onwards to enable the UK to meet EU targets.

From April 2008 many of our infrastructure projects in England will become subject to requirements of new Site Waste Management Plans Regulations seeking to reduce waste by design, target recycling and introduce enhanced tracking and reporting.  The Government sponsored Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) will shortly announce tough targets to reduce and then eliminate construction waste going to landfill.  Coupled with requirements for pre-treatment of wastes introduced in 2007 the direction for waste and resource management is firmly away from landfill.     

From a business perspective, inefficient use of resources affects not only the environment, but also the prosperity of business and the national economy. Figures published by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formerly the Department of Trade and Industry) suggest that inefficient use of resources costs UK businesses around £20 billion a year and that 30% of energy used in business is wasted – equivalent to £12 billion per annum.

Landfill Tax charges will increase between 2008 and 2011, providing an added incentive for businesses to minimise waste and increase recycling.

UK companies have improved their resource efficiency in recent years, but there is scope to do much more. The business community must lead the supply chain as responsible consumers, ensuring the efficient use of resources and the responsible reuse, recycling and disposal of waste.

Rupert Steele, Impact Leader