Waste sector outlook for 2023: part 2

Sam Horne, chair of NAWDO

If the last few months of 2022 are anything to go by, it’s clear that 2023 is going to be an extremely busy year for waste disposal authorities because of the significant change that the sector is going through at the moment.

NAWDO members are certainly hoping that the long awaited government responses to the deposit return scheme (DRS) and consistency consultations are published and that they provide as much certainty as possible to allow local authorities to put in place plans to deliver on the requirements of the environment act. Clarity on funding would be the ideal during 2023 as this is fundamental to the investment decisions that are required and we look forward to engaging with Defra to progress this work as a priority.

There is no doubt that the management of waste upholstered domestic seating is going to continue to be a challenge during 2023 as local authorities work at pace to divert it away from landfill and into energy recovery to ensure that the persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are irreversibly destroyed. It is surely a question of when not if the next waste stream containing POPs is identified and therefore we really need to start a conversation about how we prevent this issue from arising in the future by tackling the issue at source. This conversation should start with, ‘are the properties these chemicals provide really needed?’

Our key hope for 2023 is that we see a concerted effort to bring together the many different policy streams that have come forward recently including the packaging and recycling reforms, digital waste tracking and most importantly the waste prevention plan for England. It is hoped that there will be a co-ordinated and considered plan for implementation that ensures successful delivery of the ambitious aims of the resources and waste strategy. Local authorities are ready and willing to engage and need only the information and support to do so.

Jenny Grant, head of organics and natural capital at the REA

What will 2023 bring? Like many, I’m hopeful the long-awaited government response to the collection consistency consultation will be published in January, and along with it details on dates and funding for when the mandatory food and garden waste collections must be in place.

Our members are keen to understand further details on the TEEP requirements, what the requirements for liners for food waste collections will be, and what will be covered in the statutory guidance. We hope that government has taken on board our feedback about the importance of sufficient funding for effective education and communications. Confirmation of these details will enable further investment in the industry and ensure that organics recycling can help deliver the net zero targets.

Our work on compostables will continue, pursuing government support for compostables in applications where they help increase food waste capture (caddy liners), are items likely to contain food residues when disposed (e.g. tea bags) and that reduce contamination that arrives at our members’ facilities.

Hopefully the Environment Agency’s improvement plans and recruitment drive will start to result in improved service levels in 2023. We are still receiving feedback from members regarding permit application and variation delays and the impact this is having on their businesses. We have written to Government calling for more technical resource within the EA. Fair and proportionate regulations, consistently enforced across the country will enable the sector to thrive.

Permit revisions in line with best available techniques (BAT) will continue, with some operators making changes to ensure they are compliant. We may see more anaerobic digestion (AD) plants retrofitting carbon capture to improve resilience and security of CO₂ supplies in the UK. The revisions to the quality protocols is also ongoing, working towards the publication of resource frameworks for compost and AD.

There will be preparations towards banning use of peat in amateur horticulture in 2024. Quality composts and fibre digestates can play a role as alternative growing media ingredients without the need to degrade peatlands. Recognition of the role that compost and digestates can play in protecting and improving soil health is also important. With greater focus on soil health in the farming sector there is an opportunity to realise the many benefits that using recycled organic biofertilisers and soil improvers bring.

Julia Turner, executive director of the Wood Recyclers Association

As a new year begins, we have many reasons to be positive in the wood recycling sector.

After processing record amounts of waste wood in 2021, demand for material remained high last year and the sector proved resilient in the face of steep hikes in operating and energy costs. Meanwhile, supply of waste wood was stable despite shortages reported in Europe.

This year, I expect that strong demand for material will continue as requirements for energy and animal bedding reach their winter peak. Ongoing material shortages on the continent could also see an increase in demand from the export market, potentially putting pressure on our own domestic supply.

As always, the weather will play a big part in dictating demand for waste wood and this year the UK economy is also forecast to shrink by 0.4% which could impact both supply and demand for material. However, as yet no downturn in waste wood arisings has been reported. The housebuilding sector is also projecting another busy year, which will continue to drive demand from this sector for panel board products.

Away from the markets, my hope for 2023 is that government policy becomes more joined up in relation to waste wood. At the time of writing, we are awaiting publication of the government’s biomass strategy and we hope that the important part our sector is already playing in generating renewable, domestic baseload power will be properly recognised.

We are also waiting to find out about packaging recycling targets for wood from 2024 onwards and are hopeful that higher targets will be introduced to drive recycling and that the general recycling target, which benefits our sector, will be retained.

Having the right policy framework in place will help to ensure that the waste wood sector can continue to play a critical part in the UK circular economy and make a vital contribution to net zero and energy security this year and for many years to come.