Government launches programme to increase recycling
Released On 4th Aug 2023
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs has announced new plans setting out the government’s long-term aim to use fewer new resources, drive up the repair and reuse of existing materials, and increase recycling.
‘Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste’ brings together a set of measures which will help to keep products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value, including through increasing reuse, repair and remanufacture.
The plans include removing the fees for households to have bulky domestic furniture collected from their homes by retailers by 2025 – saving people money and making it easier for them to recycle furniture so it can be reused, as well as helping to prevent fly tipping.
Other measures include developing policy options to tackle fast fashion and making sure vapes are properly disposed of, by consulting the public on changes to the waste electricals regulations, helping make sure the vape industry pay and strengthening take-back requirements for retailers and online sellers.
Proposals will also be launched in reforming the batteries regulations 2023, to mitigate the environmental impact of vehicle batteries.
Environment minister Rebecca Pow said: "We mean business when it comes to preventing waste. We’re targeting the sectors responsible for the biggest impacts on the environment, and working with business to take the right steps for better use of our precious resources.
"Today’s announcement sets out a long-term vision to improve our use of resources and protect the environment.
Harriet Lamb, WRAP CEO, said: "Nearly half of all greenhouse gases come from our own ‘consumption’ - what you and I do every day, how we shop and what we buy. Tackling these emissions from food to clothes, packaging to electronics and more is imperative if we’re to have any chance of limiting the crisis of our changing climate.
"Increasing repair and reuse is key to supporting the move towards more circular living which many people and community groups are embracing and WRAP welcomes more support for such initiatives."
