Officials predict short term growth of 3.0% for waste management sales and 3.9% for recovery and recycling for the remainder of the 2012-13 financial year.
And, for 2013-14, growth figures of 3.1% are forecast in the waste management sector while growth is predicted to reach 4% in recovery and recycling.
The figures were revealed yesterday (11 December) by environment minister Richard Benyon in parliament yesterday (11 December).
Mr Benyon was responding to a parliamentary written question from shadow environment minister Gavin Shuker about likely growth levels in the waste management and recycling sector.
Mr Benyon said: Britain’s waste and recycling sector was valued at over 12 billion in 2010-11, employing between 104,000-150,000 people.
For 2012-13, short-term growth figures are forecast as waste management growth in sales of 3.0% and recovery and recycling of 3.9%. Growth figures for 2013/14 for these two sectors are forecast as 3.1% and 4.0% respectively.
He added: The 2011 Review of Waste Policy in England sets us on the path towards a zero-waste economy where materials are valued and nothing of value is discarded. It will support the sector’s transition from focusing on disposal to landfill to greater reuse, recycling and recovery of waste material.
Wider economy
News of predicted growth will be a relief to the waste sector, as it stands in contrast to figures forecast for the wider UK economy announced last Wednesday (5 December) in the Chancellors Autumn Statement (see letsrecycle.com story).
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The UK economy as a whole is expected to contract by 0.1% in 2012, a considerable revision from the 0.8% growth predicted in the Chancellors budget in March. The forecasts for 2013, meanwhile, predict a 1.2% growth in the UK economy.
Growth forecasts for the next five years have also been cut, while the level of debt in proportion to output in the country is not expected to fall until 2016-17 a year later than previously hoped.
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