Former prime minister Liz Truss appointed Chris Skidmore, Conservative MP for Kingswood, to lead a review of the government’s delivery of net zero in September. He published his resulting report today (13 January).
In the review, Mr Skidmore says “clear, nationwide collection and recycling is key” to achieving a circular economy and net zero targets.
Elsewhere, Mr Skidmore makes several recommendations relating to waste. He says the government has partnered with industry to trial kerbside collections of soft plastics and should look to roll this out across the country.
The review recommends the government should work to end the export of plastic waste by 2027.
Additional UK processing capacity is needed to enable reuse and recycling targets, Mr Skidmore says, particularly for plastics and critical minerals.
Mr Skidmore recommends that the government launches a taskforce in collaboration with industry to identify barriers and enablers to the circular economy, alongside developing sector-specific business models.
And, the review says the government should develop a public engagement campaign on the value of the circular economy to help build trust amongst consumers, for example by ensuring they are aware of their rights to getting goods repaired.
Circular economy
John Scanlon is chief executive officer of Suez recycling and recovery UK, who took part in the review. In a statement, Mr Scanlon said: “The review highlights not only that a more resource efficient, circular economy is central to delivering net zero, but also the economic opportunity it creates for the UK.
We are fully behind the call for urgent action to deliver the commitments in the resources and waste strategy
- John Scanlon, CEO of Suez recycling and recovery UK
“We are fully behind the call for urgent action to deliver the commitments in the resources and waste strategy. Finalising these critical legislative reforms has the potential to unlock as much as £12 billion investment in developing a circular economy here in the UK.”
Meanwhile, Mike Maudsley, CEO of EfW company Enfinium, said the review was a “timely reminder” that the next decade would be pivotal to achieving net zero targets.
“As the review highlights, modern energy from waste infrastructure will be the anchor for our green transition by creating dispatchable homegrown electricity to support a net zero power system and high-quality green jobs,” he added. “It will also unlock new technologies such as negative emissions and low carbon hydrogen.”
Recommendations
Hundreds of participants took part in 52 roundtables for the review, Mr Skidmore says, while 1,800 organisations and individuals submitted evidence.
Away from the circular economy, Mr Skidmore recommends that in 2023 the government develops a roadmap for carbon capture, utilisation and storage showing the plan beyond 2030, as well as for scaling up hydrogen production during the next decade.
Mr Skidmore said: “My recommendations are designed to make the most of this historic opportunity, covering the length and breadth of our economy, so that people in every part of the country can reap the benefits of this both in their communities and in their pockets.”
Related link
MISSION ZERO: Independent review of net zero
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