Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste: policy summary table

Q: Systems and services

Policy proposal summary Target date 1. We will ensure the waste hierarchy is more stringently applied when companies and other bodies deal with their waste. We will revise our waste hierarchy guidance by 2024, setting clear expectations for how decisions on waste treatment routes should be made. We will also consider whether changes to waste legislation could be usefully made to support a more circular economy. 2024 2. Develop best practice guidance on reuse for local authorities, including consideration of how reuse is reported, to help ensure that more Household Waste Recycling Centres and bulky waste collections are performing an effective role in waste prevention as well as enhancing local communities’, business’ and the voluntary sector’s roles in achieving more reuse, including case studies of successful reuse hubs. 2023 3. As a means of reducing the burden on local authorities and ensuring that it is as easy as possible for households to return unwanted old items for reuse or recycling, we will consult on proposals to remove fees for consumers to have bulky domestic furniture collected from their homes by 2025. 2025

Question 1

Introduction

Accepted Answer

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. At the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022, nations adopted four goals and 23 targets for 2030 in the landmark UN biodiversity agreement known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Target 16 sets out the ambition to significantly reduce over consumption and waste generation in order for all people to live well in harmony with the earth. It aims to do this by ensuring that people are encouraged and enabled to make sustainable consumption choices including by establishing supportive policy, legislative or regulatory frameworks, improving education and access to relevant and accurate information and alternatives, and by 2030, reducing the global footprint of consumption in an equitable manner and halving global food waste.	2030
2. Strategic principle 2 from our Resources and Waste Strategy is to prevent waste from occurring in the first place and manage it better when it does. Our goal is for a circular economy approach which retains products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value.	Ongoing
3. To drive down the amount of waste we produce, and encourage reuse and recycling, the government has set an Environment Act 2021 target to halve residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) kg per person by the year 2042. This will be measured as a reduction from 2019 levels, which is estimated to be approximately 574 kg per capita.	2042
4. Through the government’s Net Zero Strategy we are committed to the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028 and reduced emissions from landfill and incineration, saving an estimated 35 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2050.	2050
5. Eliminate avoidable plastic waste.	2042

Question 2

Designing out waste: Product policy

Accepted Answer

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. At the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022, nations adopted four goals and 23 targets for 2030 in the landmark UN biodiversity agreement known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Target 16 sets out the ambition to significantly reduce over consumption and waste generation in order for all people to live well in harmony with the earth. It aims to do this by ensuring that people are encouraged and enabled to make sustainable consumption choices including by establishing supportive policy, legislative or regulatory frameworks, improving education and access to relevant and accurate information and alternatives, and by 2030, reducing the global footprint of consumption in an equitable manner and halving global food waste.	2030
2. Strategic principle 2 from our Resources and Waste Strategy is to prevent waste from occurring in the first place and manage it better when it does. Our goal is for a circular economy approach which retains products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value.	Ongoing
3. To drive down the amount of waste we produce, and encourage reuse and recycling, the government has set an Environment Act 2021 target to halve residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) kg per person by the year 2042. This will be measured as a reduction from 2019 levels, which is estimated to be approximately 574 kg per capita.	2042
4. Through the government’s Net Zero Strategy we are committed to the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028 and reduced emissions from landfill and incineration, saving an estimated 35 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2050.	2050
5. Eliminate avoidable plastic waste.	2042

Question 3

Systems and services

Accepted Answer

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. At the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022, nations adopted four goals and 23 targets for 2030 in the landmark UN biodiversity agreement known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Target 16 sets out the ambition to significantly reduce over consumption and waste generation in order for all people to live well in harmony with the earth. It aims to do this by ensuring that people are encouraged and enabled to make sustainable consumption choices including by establishing supportive policy, legislative or regulatory frameworks, improving education and access to relevant and accurate information and alternatives, and by 2030, reducing the global footprint of consumption in an equitable manner and halving global food waste.	2030
2. Strategic principle 2 from our Resources and Waste Strategy is to prevent waste from occurring in the first place and manage it better when it does. Our goal is for a circular economy approach which retains products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value.	Ongoing
3. To drive down the amount of waste we produce, and encourage reuse and recycling, the government has set an Environment Act 2021 target to halve residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) kg per person by the year 2042. This will be measured as a reduction from 2019 levels, which is estimated to be approximately 574 kg per capita.	2042
4. Through the government’s Net Zero Strategy we are committed to the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028 and reduced emissions from landfill and incineration, saving an estimated 35 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2050.	2050
5. Eliminate avoidable plastic waste.	2042

Question 4

Data and information

Accepted Answer

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. At the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022, nations adopted four goals and 23 targets for 2030 in the landmark UN biodiversity agreement known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Target 16 sets out the ambition to significantly reduce over consumption and waste generation in order for all people to live well in harmony with the earth. It aims to do this by ensuring that people are encouraged and enabled to make sustainable consumption choices including by establishing supportive policy, legislative or regulatory frameworks, improving education and access to relevant and accurate information and alternatives, and by 2030, reducing the global footprint of consumption in an equitable manner and halving global food waste.	2030
2. Strategic principle 2 from our Resources and Waste Strategy is to prevent waste from occurring in the first place and manage it better when it does. Our goal is for a circular economy approach which retains products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value.	Ongoing
3. To drive down the amount of waste we produce, and encourage reuse and recycling, the government has set an Environment Act 2021 target to halve residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) kg per person by the year 2042. This will be measured as a reduction from 2019 levels, which is estimated to be approximately 574 kg per capita.	2042
4. Through the government’s Net Zero Strategy we are committed to the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028 and reduced emissions from landfill and incineration, saving an estimated 35 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2050.	2050
5. Eliminate avoidable plastic waste.	2042

Question 5

Construction

Accepted Answer

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. At the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022, nations adopted four goals and 23 targets for 2030 in the landmark UN biodiversity agreement known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Target 16 sets out the ambition to significantly reduce over consumption and waste generation in order for all people to live well in harmony with the earth. It aims to do this by ensuring that people are encouraged and enabled to make sustainable consumption choices including by establishing supportive policy, legislative or regulatory frameworks, improving education and access to relevant and accurate information and alternatives, and by 2030, reducing the global footprint of consumption in an equitable manner and halving global food waste.	2030
2. Strategic principle 2 from our Resources and Waste Strategy is to prevent waste from occurring in the first place and manage it better when it does. Our goal is for a circular economy approach which retains products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value.	Ongoing
3. To drive down the amount of waste we produce, and encourage reuse and recycling, the government has set an Environment Act 2021 target to halve residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) kg per person by the year 2042. This will be measured as a reduction from 2019 levels, which is estimated to be approximately 574 kg per capita.	2042
4. Through the government’s Net Zero Strategy we are committed to the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028 and reduced emissions from landfill and incineration, saving an estimated 35 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2050.	2050
5. Eliminate avoidable plastic waste.	2042

Question 6

Textiles

Accepted Answer

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. At the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022, nations adopted four goals and 23 targets for 2030 in the landmark UN biodiversity agreement known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Target 16 sets out the ambition to significantly reduce over consumption and waste generation in order for all people to live well in harmony with the earth. It aims to do this by ensuring that people are encouraged and enabled to make sustainable consumption choices including by establishing supportive policy, legislative or regulatory frameworks, improving education and access to relevant and accurate information and alternatives, and by 2030, reducing the global footprint of consumption in an equitable manner and halving global food waste.	2030
2. Strategic principle 2 from our Resources and Waste Strategy is to prevent waste from occurring in the first place and manage it better when it does. Our goal is for a circular economy approach which retains products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value.	Ongoing
3. To drive down the amount of waste we produce, and encourage reuse and recycling, the government has set an Environment Act 2021 target to halve residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) kg per person by the year 2042. This will be measured as a reduction from 2019 levels, which is estimated to be approximately 574 kg per capita.	2042
4. Through the government’s Net Zero Strategy we are committed to the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028 and reduced emissions from landfill and incineration, saving an estimated 35 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2050.	2050
5. Eliminate avoidable plastic waste.	2042

Question 7

Furniture and furnishings

Accepted Answer

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. At the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022, nations adopted four goals and 23 targets for 2030 in the landmark UN biodiversity agreement known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Target 16 sets out the ambition to significantly reduce over consumption and waste generation in order for all people to live well in harmony with the earth. It aims to do this by ensuring that people are encouraged and enabled to make sustainable consumption choices including by establishing supportive policy, legislative or regulatory frameworks, improving education and access to relevant and accurate information and alternatives, and by 2030, reducing the global footprint of consumption in an equitable manner and halving global food waste.	2030
2. Strategic principle 2 from our Resources and Waste Strategy is to prevent waste from occurring in the first place and manage it better when it does. Our goal is for a circular economy approach which retains products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value.	Ongoing
3. To drive down the amount of waste we produce, and encourage reuse and recycling, the government has set an Environment Act 2021 target to halve residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) kg per person by the year 2042. This will be measured as a reduction from 2019 levels, which is estimated to be approximately 574 kg per capita.	2042
4. Through the government’s Net Zero Strategy we are committed to the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028 and reduced emissions from landfill and incineration, saving an estimated 35 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2050.	2050
5. Eliminate avoidable plastic waste.	2042

Question 8

Electrical and electronic products

Accepted Answer

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. At the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022, nations adopted four goals and 23 targets for 2030 in the landmark UN biodiversity agreement known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Target 16 sets out the ambition to significantly reduce over consumption and waste generation in order for all people to live well in harmony with the earth. It aims to do this by ensuring that people are encouraged and enabled to make sustainable consumption choices including by establishing supportive policy, legislative or regulatory frameworks, improving education and access to relevant and accurate information and alternatives, and by 2030, reducing the global footprint of consumption in an equitable manner and halving global food waste.	2030
2. Strategic principle 2 from our Resources and Waste Strategy is to prevent waste from occurring in the first place and manage it better when it does. Our goal is for a circular economy approach which retains products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value.	Ongoing
3. To drive down the amount of waste we produce, and encourage reuse and recycling, the government has set an Environment Act 2021 target to halve residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) kg per person by the year 2042. This will be measured as a reduction from 2019 levels, which is estimated to be approximately 574 kg per capita.	2042
4. Through the government’s Net Zero Strategy we are committed to the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028 and reduced emissions from landfill and incineration, saving an estimated 35 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2050.	2050
5. Eliminate avoidable plastic waste.	2042

Question 9

Road vehicles

Accepted Answer

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. At the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022, nations adopted four goals and 23 targets for 2030 in the landmark UN biodiversity agreement known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Target 16 sets out the ambition to significantly reduce over consumption and waste generation in order for all people to live well in harmony with the earth. It aims to do this by ensuring that people are encouraged and enabled to make sustainable consumption choices including by establishing supportive policy, legislative or regulatory frameworks, improving education and access to relevant and accurate information and alternatives, and by 2030, reducing the global footprint of consumption in an equitable manner and halving global food waste.	2030
2. Strategic principle 2 from our Resources and Waste Strategy is to prevent waste from occurring in the first place and manage it better when it does. Our goal is for a circular economy approach which retains products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value.	Ongoing
3. To drive down the amount of waste we produce, and encourage reuse and recycling, the government has set an Environment Act 2021 target to halve residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) kg per person by the year 2042. This will be measured as a reduction from 2019 levels, which is estimated to be approximately 574 kg per capita.	2042
4. Through the government’s Net Zero Strategy we are committed to the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028 and reduced emissions from landfill and incineration, saving an estimated 35 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2050.	2050
5. Eliminate avoidable plastic waste.	2042

Question 10

Packaging, plastics and single use items

Accepted Answer

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. At the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022, nations adopted four goals and 23 targets for 2030 in the landmark UN biodiversity agreement known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Target 16 sets out the ambition to significantly reduce over consumption and waste generation in order for all people to live well in harmony with the earth. It aims to do this by ensuring that people are encouraged and enabled to make sustainable consumption choices including by establishing supportive policy, legislative or regulatory frameworks, improving education and access to relevant and accurate information and alternatives, and by 2030, reducing the global footprint of consumption in an equitable manner and halving global food waste.	2030
2. Strategic principle 2 from our Resources and Waste Strategy is to prevent waste from occurring in the first place and manage it better when it does. Our goal is for a circular economy approach which retains products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value.	Ongoing
3. To drive down the amount of waste we produce, and encourage reuse and recycling, the government has set an Environment Act 2021 target to halve residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) kg per person by the year 2042. This will be measured as a reduction from 2019 levels, which is estimated to be approximately 574 kg per capita.	2042
4. Through the government’s Net Zero Strategy we are committed to the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028 and reduced emissions from landfill and incineration, saving an estimated 35 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2050.	2050
5. Eliminate avoidable plastic waste.	2042

Question 11

Food and drink

Accepted Answer

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. At the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022, nations adopted four goals and 23 targets for 2030 in the landmark UN biodiversity agreement known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Target 16 sets out the ambition to significantly reduce over consumption and waste generation in order for all people to live well in harmony with the earth. It aims to do this by ensuring that people are encouraged and enabled to make sustainable consumption choices including by establishing supportive policy, legislative or regulatory frameworks, improving education and access to relevant and accurate information and alternatives, and by 2030, reducing the global footprint of consumption in an equitable manner and halving global food waste.	2030
2. Strategic principle 2 from our Resources and Waste Strategy is to prevent waste from occurring in the first place and manage it better when it does. Our goal is for a circular economy approach which retains products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value.	Ongoing
3. To drive down the amount of waste we produce, and encourage reuse and recycling, the government has set an Environment Act 2021 target to halve residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) kg per person by the year 2042. This will be measured as a reduction from 2019 levels, which is estimated to be approximately 574 kg per capita.	2042
4. Through the government’s Net Zero Strategy we are committed to the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028 and reduced emissions from landfill and incineration, saving an estimated 35 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2050.	2050
5. Eliminate avoidable plastic waste.	2042

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. DESNZ The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will continue to explore the potential role of industrial symbiosis in reducing emissions from industry and how best to facilitate this. It will build on early-stage research conducted in 2021 to explore how a facilitated industrial symbiosis network could operate and the benefits of doing so. This will be informed by a data strategy to maximise synergies without compromising data security, recognise regional differences, and complement existing initiatives.
2. Defra will continue work to establish a digital waste tracking system to better understand stocks and flows of waste returned to economy as secondary material. Defra consulted on proposals for the introduction of mandatory digital waste tracking in 2022. We will issue our Government response to that consultation in 2023, and expect to start private beta testing the digital platform later in 2023. The dates for mandatory implementation will be subject to the time needed for IT development, and the transition time needed by businesses.	From 2024 ‘subject to the IT development and transition needs of business’
3. Defra and DESNZ will work with other departments, and industry to continue to explore options to support greater accessibility and quality of materials data. The shared objective is to provide greater visibility of material flows to support the resilience and circularity of industrial supply chains. High quality materials data along material supply chains is critical to informing the development of a wide range of Government policy areas and to the effective monitoring and evaluation of these policies.
4. Defra will explore using the resource efficiency information power in the Environment Act 2021 or other relevant powers for the introduction of product passport requirements, to support reuse and extraction of secondary materials. This could be as part of a broader product policy framework including for example Extended Producer Responsibility, ecodesign or consumer information requirements.
5. DESNZ and Defra are collaborating on a major research project that aims to better understand the carbon abatement potential of resource efficiency measures in different sectors, including approaches which advance the circular economy. The work will inform future policy development and will help us better understand the true potential of resource efficiency measures in reducing demand for natural resources and the amount of waste being produced.	2024
6. Led by Office for National Statistics (ONS)-Integrated Data Service (IDS), HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and UK Circular Economy Hub (CE-Hub), phase 1 of a pilot project to improve data traceability and transparency in the circular economy has concluded. Analysis and conclusions from phase 1 will form the basis of a UK Circular Economy framework, with the objective of creating a pioneering data pooling network that securely brings together public and private data from across industry, government and academia.

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. We will continue to support the Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centres for Mineral-based Construction Materials (ICEC-MCM) and Metals (CircularMetal), as part of the four-year £30 million National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research (NICER) Programme, concluding at the end of 2024. The Programme is made up of five Circular Economy Research Centres, each focused on a speciality material flow. Each centre aims to deliver research, innovation, and the evidence base for their material to move the UK towards a resilient UK circular economy.	2024
2. Through the Green Construction Board, Government will promote adoption of strategies aligned with the Routemap to Zero Avoidable Waste in Construction. We will carefully monitor progress against key targets in the routemap to eliminate all but hazardous C&D waste to landfill and reduce soil to landfill by 75% by 2040, ultimately working towards zero avoidable C&D waste by 2050.	Ongoing
3. Government will work with industry to explore what policy interventions would best support a shift in the design of construction products to encourage greater reuse and use of recycled materials. This could potentially include options like, resource efficiency product standards or information schemes with regard to existing Environmental Product Declarations. This could be to ensure, for instance that windows are designed so they can be dismantled to preserve the glass, or precast concrete panels designed so that they can be reused, as well as encouraging a shift towards recyclable materials. However, as with the other policy suggestions throughout this document, this would be subject to decisions at the next Spending Review to be able to take this work forward.	Ongoing
4. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) will continue to support local authorities to promote sustainable resource use through planning. Chapter 2 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) recognises the need for the planning system to consider the prudent use of natural resources and waste minimisation in the pursuit of sustainable development. The NPPF and the National Planning Policy for Waste are material considerations for local planning authorities when making decisions on planning applications and when preparing their local plans.	Ongoing
5. In accordance with the Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy, DESNZ will develop proposals for demand-side measures intended to grow the market for low carbon industrial products which include reusable products and secondary materials. The measures include proposals for embodied emissions reporting and labelling which could help buyers of industrial products, including the construction sector, better understand the embodied emissions of the products they buy. The then Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy conducted a call for evidence ‘Towards a market for low emissions industrial products’ in December 2021, to gather information from stakeholders on how low emissions products can be defined, and the emissions reporting required to achieve this. A summary of responses was published in July 2022. In March 2023, the government published an exploratory consultation considering a range of potential policy measures to mitigate carbon leakage risk in the future and ensure UK industry has the optimal policy environment to decarbonise. Potential policies include a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), mandatory product standards (MPS), and other policy measures to help grow the market for low carbon products, as well as embodied emissions reporting that could support the implementation of these policies.
6. Cabinet Office will continue to take forward green procurement in accordance with the National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS), which established principles that contracting authorities must consider in their procurement including reducing emissions. Additionally, Cabinet Office Policy Procurement Note ‘Taking account of Carbon Reduction Plans in the procurement of major government contracts’ (PPN06/21) requires bidders for major government contracts to commit to achieving Net Zero in their operations by 2050. This applies to Central Government Departments (plus Executive Agencies and NDPBs).	Ongoing
7. Government committed in the Net Zero Strategy to work with industry to improve reporting on embodied carbon in the built environment and explore maximum levels for new builds in the future. Following this, Government has announced its intention to consult in 2023 on our approach to the assessment and reduction of embodied carbon. This is part of DLUHC’s wider work, including the Future Homes and Buildings Standards to ensure all new buildings are aligned with a zero-carbon future. The Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative, which is an international initiative, is focused on standardising carbon assessments throughout the lifecycle of industrial products, starting with steel, cement and concrete, establishing a low carbon standard for steel, concrete and cement, establishing internationally coordinated targets for embodied carbon in public construction and incentivise investment into low carbon industrial product development. At COP26, in November 2021, the UK pledged to work on the harmonisation of embodied emissions reporting, public construction practices and standard setting as well as setting a baseline and interim embodied carbon emission reduction aspiration for major public construction projects for 2030.  DESNZ consulted on this pledge in the carbon leakage consultation that was published in March 2023.	From 2025
8. Defra will publish a revised Code of Practice for the Sustainable Use of Soil on Construction Sites and begin development of a soil reuse and storage depot scheme in 2023. These will help prevent soil that would otherwise be classified as waste going to landfill and encourage remediation and re-use of soil. Defra will pilot the soil reuse and storage depot scheme by 2026.	Ongoing

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. The UK Research and Innovation National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research programme mentioned in chapter 1 also includes a £2.5 million circular economy innovation fund to support projects aligned with the programme. One example of these is £150,000 for an industry-led pilot to develop a model for an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for textiles. This pilot will be developed in collaboration with leading trade bodies including the UK Fashion & Textiles Association, the British Fashion Council and the British Retail Consortium. We will work with industry to facilitate an industry led approach for holding producers responsible for the full net costs of managing the textiles waste they generate and will assess the costs and benefits of this approach as part of longer-term policy development.	2023 to 2024
2. Develop a textiles waste hierarchy to provide robust guidance to businesses managing textiles and fashion products and material. We will explore putting the textiles hierarchy on a firm statutory footing, starting by considering the measures set out below.	2024
3. Subject to an impact assessment, we will explore the potential of the following measures for non-domestic premises to support the textiles waste hierarchy and aim to consult in 2024. This includes, but is not limited to: A. A requirement to present reusable and recyclable textiles for separate collection and for the collecting organisation to separately collect and store until treating in accordance with the waste hierarchy, by sorting for reuse and recycling. B. Requiring businesses over a certain size to provide customer take back systems for used textiles. We will also explore how to encourage online only companies to partner with brick-and-mortar businesses to ensure the costs of implementing take back schemes are proportionate. C. Banning separately collected material from being sent to landfill and energy from waste without prior sorting. This would bring into scope the destruction of products and material that can be reused, redistributed and recycled, such as returns, surplus and unsold stock. We will also consider whether wider measures to reduce waste generation would be helpful.	Consult in 2024
4. Enhance voluntary action to reduce textiles waste by continuing to fund Textiles 2030 to reduce carbon and water footprints and accelerate action on circularity. We will seek to expand the programme to tackle issues such as overproduction and waste. Initially this will be by driving voluntary standardised measurement and reporting of waste generation across the supply chain, with an initial focus on unsold and surplus stock. Once a voluntary approach is established, we will evaluate the benefits and methodology to explore whether mandatory reporting of waste is required.	Textiles 2030 runs to 2030.
5. We have funded the Interdisciplinary Textiles Circularity Centre, a 4-year, £5.4 million research programme to harness academic excellence and industry expertise to boost innovation in the development of renewable textiles materials from post-consumer textiles and household waste.	Programme finishes in 2024.
6. Through UKRI’s Circular Fashion Programme, Government will fund £15 million to drive action to tackle some of the industry’s biggest challenges in adopting circular business models. This initial 2year programme includes £4 million for a sorting and recycling demonstrator, £6 million for enabling research, £2 million for an industry led Innovation Network, and £3 million for projects partnering UK fashion companies with UK universities to lead research and innovation. The programme will act as a basis to initiate a ten-year vision of transforming the fashion and textiles sector, supporting the adoption of economically viable and scalable circular models by 2032.	Launched in late 2022. The 2-year programme will end in March 2025.

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. Encourage sharing of best practice on product design and take-back systems, through trade associations, voluntary agreements and industry standards, such as initiatives to reduce waste mattresses led by the National Bed Federation.
2. As set out in Chapter 3 we plan to develop best practice guidance for local authorities to encourage reuse through Household Waste Recycling Centres and bulky waste collections and enhance the role of local communities, businesses, the voluntary sector and social enterprise in achieving more reuse.	2023
3. In accordance with our commitments in the Resources and Waste Strategy, and as set out in our cross-cutting approach to designing out waste in chapter 2, we will consider policy options including ecodesign, consumer information and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for furniture. The aim of these would be to: A. Reduce furniture waste and increasing recycling by, for example, incentivising more environmentally sound design of furniture and furnishings. B. Address issues with funding and space at end-of-use, as well as ease of dismantling, cleaning of fabrics and chemical content. We will develop the evidence base further to support this activity, and we have commissioned research to be completed in 2023 to help us assess the most appropriate policy options and the scope of a potential policy framework, seeking to include at least the most problematic products such as mattresses, for example.	Research by 2024, consider policy options by 2027.
4. Continue to address green procurement, making use of the National Procurement Policy Statement.
5. Consult on proposals to remove fees for consumers to have bulky domestic furniture collected from their homes by 2025. These may be standalone proposals or could be considered in conjunction with other measures referenced elsewhere in this programme.	2025

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. We will bring forward proposals to reform the batteries regulations by the end of 2023, seeking to legislate from 2024 onwards with partial implementation from 2025. These reforms will allow us to address imbalances in the current operation of the regulations, to keep pace with progress in battery technology and to position the UK’s regulatory regime to capitalise on the expected growth in electric vehicle batteries. We will also seek to consult on potential reforms to the End of Life Vehicles regulatory regime (ELV). This will begin with improvements to the existing processes being trialled from summer 2023 and, if successful, expanded from 2024, and with a consultation on reforming the wider regulatory regime in 2025.	2023 to 2024. 2023 (pilot changes), 2024 onwards rollout of process improvements (subject to successful pilot). 2025 for consultation on reforms to ELV.
2. Government will commit £541 million to the Faraday Battery Challenge, to support the commitment to transition to electric vehicles by 2035 and to put the UK at the global forefront of the design, development, and manufacturing of electric batteries. We are also supporting the innovation, infrastructure and regulatory environment needed for a UK battery recycling industry, including reuse in second life applications and the efficient recycling of valuable rare earths and materials as part of a circular economy. The Faraday Institution’s £10 million ‘ReLib’ research project is developing the technological, economic and legal infrastructure to allow high percentages of the materials in lithium ion batteries at the end of their first life to be reused or recycled.	2035
3. DESNZ to work with stakeholders across government, industry and academia to explore potential for greater resource efficiency and circularity in the automotive sector.

Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste: policy summary table

Applies to England

Introduction

Designing out waste: Product policy

Systems and services

Data and information

Construction

Textiles

Furniture and furnishings

Electrical and electronic products

Road vehicles

Packaging, plastics and single use items

Food and drink

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. We will continue to work with industry, academia and other key stakeholders to support the shift towards product, material and business model design for greater circularity and resource efficiency, minimising waste and reducing environmental and climate impacts.  We will encourage industry to set their own standards, reducing the need for regulation.	Ongoing
2. For electrical equipment and appliances, in line with Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) Energy-related Products Policy Framework, we will consider broadening the Ecodesign requirements described in chapter 2 to a wider range of electrical products, if our analysis supports that approach. We will continue to explore additional ways in which Ecodesign could be used to support the material resource efficiency of electricals, for example requirements for modular design to facilitate repairs, upgrades, disassembly and recovery of components and materials.
3. In the Environment Act 2021, we obtained powers to be able to implement mandatory eco-design, extended producer responsibility schemes and require environmental information be provided for consumers, or product passports for use throughout value chains. For non-energy-related products such as textiles and furniture we will explore how we can use these powers. We will continue to work with stakeholders to gather data and build our evidence base in order to understand which actions would result in the biggest impacts, whilst minimising burdens on business.	Ongoing
4. In line with our Resources and Waste Strategy commitment we are exploring the role that guarantees and warranties can play in ensuring products stay in use longer and maintain their value. We will look to see if research is needed.	Ongoing

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. We will ensure the waste hierarchy is more stringently applied when companies and other bodies deal with their waste. We will revise our waste hierarchy guidance by 2024, setting clear expectations for how decisions on waste treatment routes should be made. We will also consider whether changes to waste legislation could be usefully made to support a more circular economy.	2024
2. Develop best practice guidance on reuse for local authorities, including consideration of how reuse is reported, to help ensure that more Household Waste Recycling Centres and bulky waste collections are performing an effective role in waste prevention as well as enhancing local communities’, business’ and the voluntary sector’s roles in achieving more reuse, including case studies of successful reuse hubs.	2023
3. As a means of reducing the burden on local authorities and ensuring that it is as easy as possible for households to return unwanted old items for reuse or recycling, we will consult on proposals to remove fees for consumers to have bulky domestic furniture collected from their homes by 2025.	2025

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. Consult in 2023 on reforms to WEEE regulations. The consultation will explore ways to increase collections of waste electricals from households and businesses for reuse and recycling, including how to increase levels of consumer awareness about producer-financed responsible disposal options. It will consider how to ensure producers, including those selling electricals through online marketplaces, take greater responsibility for their products when they become waste. We also want to ensure that the future WEEE system is compatible with our circular economy objectives and will gather views in the consultation as to how we can encourage better product design, more circular economy business models and increased levels of re-use through reforms of the WEEE regulations.	2023
2. This will include options to tackle vapes, also known as e-cigarettes, which have been around since the early 2000s and were designed to be used as a smoking cessation tool, to help people to quit smoking. Vapes were originally designed to be reusable meaning people could invest in a vape device and then refill and recharge for repeated use. Recently, there has been a surge in popularity of so-called disposable vapes (or single use vapes). They are used by a range of demographics, including those under eighteen. The rise in popularity of disposable vapes amongst those under eighteen is of particular concern to the government. In response to these concerns the Department of Health and Social Care published a Call for Evidence, which closed on 6 June 2023, that aims to gather evidence on the impacts of vaping on those under eighteen and the environment and inform future policy interventions. Disposable vapes contain plastic, lithium and other rare earth elements meaning that if these products are not disposed of and recycled properly, there is a loss of critical resources. Vapes also contain lithium-ion batteries that can pose a fire risk if the waste is not managed appropriately. Ensuring that vapes are disposed of appropriately would therefore lead to numerous benefits to the natural environment.  In our forthcoming consultation on reforming the existing producer responsibility regime for waste electrical and electronic equipment we will bring forward proposals to ensure that these products are dealt with appropriately at the end of their life financed by the vape industry. This will include strengthening the existing take-back requirements placed on retailers and internet sellers of electricals.	2023
3. Work with DESNZ on future implementation of minimum ecodesign requirements in Great Britain as set out in the Energy-related Products Policy Framework, published in November 2021.	Ongoing
4. Consider ways in which to provide consumers and businesses with information on the environmental performance of electrical and electronic products, focussing on material resource efficiency aspects such as durability, reparability and recyclability. Options include rating schemes and other labelling options focused on extending the life of products and would complement existing energy labelling requirements. Initial research has been completed and will be published in 2023. In tandem, we will also explore the role of product passports that relate to critical mineral content.
5. We will continue to work with the Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Technology Metals (Met4Tech), as part of the four-year £30 million National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research (NICER) Programme, concluding at the end of 2024.	2024

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. Build on restrictions on the supply of single-use plastic straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers by banning the supply of other single-use plastic items such as single-use plastic plates, cutlery, balloon sticks and expanded and extruded polystyrene food and drinks containers from October 2023.	2023
2. In the Government Response to the call for evidence on commonly littered and problematic plastic items, we have noted the evidence provided by respondents on these items to inform future policy interventions.  We will also explore options further, including with stakeholders, for the potential for technological innovation in the production of coffee cups, and behavioural science in how they are used.	TBC
3. Following its consultation in 2021 government will introduce Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging payments from October 2025.	2025
4. Consider measures through packaging Extended Producer Responsibility or other means to encourage use of reusable and refillable packaging.	From 2025
5. Continue to support research and innovation, including through funding of the Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Fund and the Plastics Research and Innovation Fund.	Ongoing
6. In the Plan for Water, the government announced that it will change the law to ban the sale of wet wipes containing plastic, subject to public consultation which will be launched in due course.
7. The government will support Water UK’s communications campaign to ‘Bin the Wipe’; and will write to the relevant producers and advertising authorities regarding the labelling of wet wipes as ‘flushable’.

Policy proposal summary	Target date
1. Provide over £1 million in funding in 2023-24 to support consumer campaigns to help households waste less food. Reducing food waste in the home could help to save the average family with children up to £60 every month.	2023 to 2024
2. Through the Waste and Resources Action Programme we will tackle food waste through campaigns including Love Food Hate Waste and Food Waste Action Week – which support consumers to reduce food waste in their home, saving people money and bringing environmental benefits. For instance the “Unpacking the Opportunity” programme aims to increase the availability of loose fruit and vegetables in shops, saving plastic, waste and enabling people to buy what they need rather than in bulk, helping shoppers manage their budgets.
3. Promote collaboration and cooperation across the supply chain from retailers to manufacturers to the hospitality sector, between public, private and civil society actors through the support of the Courtauld 2030 Commitment and its programmes to reduce food waste. These include supporting the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap and the key tool to Target, Measure and Act on waste as well as specific working groups to promote change and inform policy.	2030
4. Following on from consultation in summer 2022, consider options to improve voluntary food waste reporting by large food businesses in England. By increasing the number of businesses measuring and publicly reporting their food waste, we expect to drive action to reduce it. As outlined in our government response to the consultation which was published in July 2023.	2023
5. Consistent recycling collections for households will come in after the implementation of the extended producer responsibility scheme. More details on this will be set out in due course.	2025
6. Continue to work with the hospitality industry including through the Hospitality Sector Council on co-creating ideas and solutions to tackling waste and the Guardians of Grub campaign which is aimed at raising the profile of food waste prevention in the hospitality industry supporting the reduction of food waste in the preparation and serving of food.	Ongoing

Cookies on GOV.UK

Applies to England

Introduction

Designing out waste: Product policy

Systems and services

Data and information

Construction

Textiles

Furniture and furnishings

Electrical and electronic products

Road vehicles

Packaging, plastics and single use items

Food and drink

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK