Environment Secretary Steve Reed has unveiled new plans to reduce the amount of waste created by UK industry, as part of the Government’s “Plan for Change.” Mr Reed said he will “vow to end throwaway culture”.

In a speech today, the environment secretary revealed the new plan, which includes the ongoing work of the Circular Economy Taskforce, set up last December. Mr Reed confirmed the first five priority sectors that the taskforce will focus on - textiles, transport, construction, agri-food, and chemicals and plastics. 

Later this year, the Circular Economy Strategy will be published and used to underpin the Taskforce’s plans to work with the five sectors to improve approaches to using the materials, creating a roadmap for reform that will provide UK industry with “direction and certainty”.

The Chartered Institute of Wastes Management (CIWM) and Circular Economy Institute (CEI) reacted to the announcement. They highlighted that the sector will be “part of the bedrock” in creating a successful circular economy and that expectation is high. They added:

“Stability, policy certainty and partnership will be a crucial function of the emerging CE Strategy and sector roadmaps to enable investability and innovation in our sector.”

CIWM and CEI also noted the importance of tackling other waste-related issues, such as waste crime to “make sure we can walk before we run”.

“The opportunity is clearly to facilitate waste prevention, reuse and repair at scale, underpinned by higher recycling rates. A more circular UK economy will bring jobs, skills and sustainable growth for our sector and the others we work with.”

At the recent Energy from Waste Conference, we heard from academic and Deputy chair of the UK Government’s Circular Economy Task Force Paul Ekins. Read the conference overview here.