The programme, called ‘Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste’, is said to bring together a range of measures across seven sectors to boost the circular economy.
“We mean business when it comes to preventing waste,” said environment minister Rebecca Pow. “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.”
The announcement comes just days after it was revealed plans for both packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) and consistent collections would not be implemented before October 2025, making it unlikely the current government will see through any of its flagship waste sector reforms.
The Government also confirmed today that it has no plans to make food waste reporting mandatory, which campaigners have insisted is essential to reduce waste in this sector, which was also among those listed in Defra’s programme.
Today’s announcement gave little specifics beyond a plan to scrap fees for household bulky furniture collection, providing other examples that included ‘developing policy options’ to deal with fast fashion, ensuring proper disposal of vapes, and launching proposals for reforming battery regulations.
Environment minister Therese Coffey said in February that a textiles EPR would not be looked at until after the packaging scheme was established; a consultation on vapes, which included their environmental impact, closed last month; and, after much delay, the Government has already promised consultation on battery recycling regulations in 2023.
Earlier this month, the Environmental Services Association (ESA) suggested the Government’s lack of clarity on waste and recycling was blocking £10bn of investments, producing a scorecard that showed policy pledges were not being matched by delivery.
“Commitments to reduce waste and increase recycling in Government and the devolved administrations are well established, however now is the time for urgent delivery,” said the ESA.
With prime minister Rishi Sunak this week indicating that he may be softening his stance on green policies, a flurry of activity from Defra today has also seen the publication of a number of consultations.
A new consultation was launched asking for feedback on EPR draft regulations, while results were published for the consultation into waste prevention - which originally ran between March and June 2021, as well as another regarding improved food waste reporting by large businesses.
While 99% of respondents to the food waste consultation favoured mandatory food waste collections, the Government said the majority of these were smaller businesses that would not be affected by such requirements.
As a result, though it recognised voluntary food waste reporting appeared to have plateaued in recent years, the Government argued that regulation would prove too costly to the public sector and businesses.
“After careful consideration of the responses to the consultation government has decided that a regulatory approach is not suitable at this time, especially when any additional costs may be passed on to consumers,” it explained.
“The government will instead be looking at options to improve the number of food businesses reporting through a voluntary approach.”
