UK Government called on to help ensure new circular economy package works

Following the announcement of the new circular economy package, the organisers of the annual, international event for recycling innovation, RWM are calling for specific measures from UK government to help all industry sectors and consumers make the cultural and behavioural shift in favour of reusing materials.

Barry Dennis Chair of RWM said: “Our sector is at the heart of innovation to recover valuable resources, but we need to stop thinking inefficient use of materials is a problem for the recycling and waste management industry to solve single-handedly. The circular economy will only be achieved when everyone from all sectors including manufacturing, retail, technology and consumers see the cost benefits of being more resourceful with materials.”

Measures include:

• Clear policies and investment to design products to last – Mr Karl Falkenberg, Environment Director General of the European Commission, who has played a pivotal role in drafting the revised proposal spoke at RWM 2015 about the importance of designing products to last, by drawing on experience and the best technology. Clear policies must be put in place to enable diverse opportunities for manufacturers to make these design changes.
• Stronger markets for secondary raw materials – Higher recycling rates are very difficult to deliver without sustainable markets for these materials. Countries such as the USA, China, Japan and Germany are further ahead with clear strategic interventions to secure key materials supplies and develop advanced materials recovery industries.
• Effective collection of waste data is needed so that we can have a better understanding of how the UK’s resources are used. Accurate data on individual waste materials being produced, and what is happening to it, is required to make a clear case for further resource management policy to happen.

Barry Dennis continues “The EU Circular Economy package is a step in the right direction but much more can and should be done to ensure that resources are no longer treated as problematic waste. Now that the circular economy concept is taking hold, there is real potential for reusable resources to result in significant economic, environmental and social gains.”