Waste not want not - States Assembly

Box 13: Scenario 3 – Doing even better – how England might look
in 2015
The SU strategy, which seemed ambitious in 2002, is now seen as setting the right direction and
progress exceeded expectations:
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initiatives to help households reduce waste have paid dividends. Over 60% of UK homes now
compost at home. UK waste growth is now 0.5% lower than the growth in GDP at 1.5%. The
UK is one of an exclusive club of nations who have managed to achieve this decoupling of
waste growth from GDP (including Germany and the Netherlands). This has saved costs and
the need for additional facilities;
the majority of local authorities have chosen to take up the option of incentive based schemes
for household waste that suit their needs, where those who produce less waste and recycle
more pay less. The principal that ‘the polluter pays’ is now universally accepted;
everyone now participates effectively in kerbside recycling, suggesting that investment in
education and information has paid dividends;
● recycling rates in England are over 50% and could reach 60% by 2020;
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the market for recycled and environmentally friendly goods is well established with people
demonstrating their willingness to pay a little extra for goods that are better for the
environment and produce less waste;
great leaps forward have been made in tackling wider wastes as well as municipal waste.
Producer responsibility via regulation and voluntary agreement has brought about a significant
reduction of waste and an increase in the recycling of materials. This has saved many
companies money;
those industries who pioneered eco-design to produce such goods are making significant
returns. As products that are less wasteful or easier to recycle become more prevalent, the
reductions in waste growth are maintained and recycling increases;
the Landfill Directive targets for 2020 are met early without the 4-year derogations envisaged
in the SU strategy;
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“green procurement” is widespread throughout the public sector and targets have been
exceeded.
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
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