The New Resources Strategy

The HM Government OUR WASTE, OUR RESOURCES: A STRATEGY FOR ENGLAND was launched on 18th December 2019. The consolidated view from Michael Gove is:

• The Government’s ambitious new Resources and Waste Strategy seeks to redress the balance in favour of the natural world. Our goal is to move to a more circular economy which keeps resources in use for longer – for that to happen, we must all reduce, reuse and recycle more than we do now.
• Our Strategy focuses on known problems with effective solutions that, among other benefits, will reduce our reliance on single-use plastics, cut confusion over household recycling, tackle the problems of packaging and end the economic, environmental and moral scandal that is food waste.
• We also tackle the problem of waste crime, which cost the English economy around £600 million in 2016, harms local communities and which pays no heed to the value of scarce resources.

As a research practice, our MD, Dr David Greenfield, shares his thoughts on the new strategy, having been part of separate workshops held by Defra, the Local Authority Waste Network Chairs and SUEZ. SOENECS, under David's leadership also created an extended producer responsibility data model for local authorities, commissioned by SUEZ.

Dr Greenfield comments "The Strategy is very bold in its ambition, indeed, calling for a move to a Circular Economy, a new Extended Producer Responsibility and Deposit Return Scheme are things that the sector have been calling for a while. However, and there is always a however, the ambition should not be confused with an action plan, of which there is not one. The Strategy includes within it 7 different consultations, up to 2022, with all new legislation being implemented by no later than 2023. In many cases, these consultations will be necessary to ensure that all parties have input to the final solutions, but we have to be wary of reducing the ambition. As a sector, we have a once in a generation opportunity to influence a national strategy that will live beyond, in many of our cases, our working lives. Let’s take this opportunity to work together to influence the consultations, whilst not losing the aim of delivering a Circular Economy that respects and protects Natural Capital."
 
SOENECS are able to offer support to local authorities and private sector companies to help understand the challenges and opportunities presented by the new Strategy, please get in touch if you would like an initial discussion.

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