On the 1^st of February 2023 DEFRA finally published its update to the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), a legal requirement following the publication of the 25-Year Environment Plan (25 YEP) in 2018 which sets out the vision for a quarter-of-a-century of action to help the natural world regain and more importantly retain good health. The requirement to update the EIP every five years was set into the Environment Act 2021. This new EIP thus reinforces the intent of the 25 YEP and sets out the plans to deliver the framework and vision stated within the 25 YEP.

To achieve this vision, the 25 YEP set ten goals relating to, in short, the protection and conservation of biodiversity (on both land and at sea), mitigating and adapting to climate change, cleaner air, clean and plentiful water, sustainable use of resources, enhancing biosecurity, managing exposure to chemicals and minimising waste. 

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With respect to resources and waste management the EIP 2023 sets the following targets and commitments:

• Elimination of avoidable waste by 2050 and double resource productivity by 2050.
• Near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028.
• Elimination of avoidable plastic waste by 2042.
• Elimination of waste crime by 2042.
• Halve ‘residual’ waste (excluding major mineral waste) produced per person by 2042.

(‘residual’ waste for the purposes of the target is defined as waste that is sent to landfill, put through incineration or used in energy recovery in the UK, or that is sent overseas to be used in energy recovery) – from the 2019 baseline year ‍

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The residual waste targets are underpinned by several interim targets by January 2028 (using the 2019 baseline year): 

• Reduction of residual waste (excluding major mineral wastes) produced per person by 24% (and in total tonnes by 21%)
• Reduction in municipal waste produced per person by 29%
• Reduction in food waste (municipal) produced per person by 50%
• Reduction in plastic waste (municipal) produced per person by 45%
• Reduction in paper and card waste (municipal) produced per person by 42%
• Reduction in glass waste (municipal) produced per person by 48%
• Reduction in metal waste (municipal) produced per person by 42%

These interim targets reflect the trajectory that will be required for the long-term stretching target. Achieving the interim target should equal a 24% reduction of residual waste from 2019 levels, setting England on a track towards achieving the long-term target equivalent to a 50% reduction from 2019 levels.

Achieving these targets will not be easy and require a substantial shift in both policies and behaviour, to support these targets DEFRA have committed to:

• Implement consistent recycling for households and business.
• Introduce a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)
• Implement a packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme from 2024 (which aims to move the cost of dealing with household packaging from local authorities to producers)
• Introduce a mandatory digital waste tracking service to modernise waste record keeping.
• Ban the supply of single use plastics e.g. plastic plates and cutlery from Oct 2023, plus explore further options e, g. coffee cups.

The EIP also restates the target introduced in the Circular Economy Package of a municipal recycling rate of at least 65% by 2035.

It remains to be seen whether the introduction of these policies will achieve the desired aim, these targets will, without a doubt be difficult to achieve. England’s recycling rate for instance has plateaued (whilst the figure in Wales continues to rise) and between 2019 and 2020 the amount of residual waste produced increased; including the total amount of residual waste from households (which increased by 0.5 million tonnes) (Source: Defra).

TotalWM remains committed to assisting its clients with the achievements of these targets. 

Please give us a call to chat through our services and how we can help you meet your residual waste reduction targets and increase your recycling, helping us all play our part to protect our planet.