ESA Welcomes 25 Year Plan But Action Still Needed to Increase Demand for Recycled Material

The Environmental Services Association (ESA), the voice for the UK’s resource and waste management industry, today welcomed the long-awaited publication of the 25 Year Environment Plan, but wants to see more action to stimulate the demand for recycled material.

ESA’s Executive Director Jacob Hayler said: “The 25 Year Environment Plan provides some much-needed encouragement to our industry that the Government is finally taking seriously both the challenges and opportunities in managing the UK’s resources. We welcome the ambitions to double resource efficiency and eliminate avoidable waste by 2050. This will require the concerted effort of the whole supply chain along with policy makers, and the waste and recycling industry is ready to play its part.”

“In particular, we are pleased that the Government has listened to our calls to reform the PRN system. However, many of the measures it outlines are too focused on consumers. A truly circular economy will only come about when there is a strong demand for recycled materials. If the Government wants to do more than tinker at the edges of recycling policy, it must act decisively to promote UK markets for recycled materials.”

“We also need to think carefully about the waste that remains once efforts to recycle have been exhausted. This will require a robust strategy for residual waste, which must send out positive signals about the role of Energy from Waste and the urgent need for investment in new facilities. We now look to Defra’s forthcoming Resource and Waste to provide a more holistic approach.”