What does the government waste management plan mean to homeowners?

Lucy Cromwell has written an article that discusses what the government waste management plan means to homeowners.

In our consumerist culture, rates of purchasing have grown to rates never before seen, and that in turn has increased the quantity of waste we’re producing. 

The UK government has outlined a strategy to help councils manage waste and recycling, in large part to preserve natural resources and encourage residents and local businesses to reuse items. 

From putting a stop to fly-tipping to reducing waste from DIY activities and making it easier to get rid of larger waste materials, these guidelines have been created with homeowners and the environment in mind. 

The need for new guidelines

While the UK has made significant steps in tackling waste, there’s still a long way to go. The latest reports state that the country generated 222.2 million tonnes of waste in 2018, with England responsible for 84% of the total, and that the recycling rate was only 44.4% in 2020 – a decrease from 46% in 2019. 

The mineral wastes that make up 63% of England’s yield include the likes of stones, bricks and soils, which are high value materials from construction, demolition and other industrial activity. 

Research from materials supplier Southern Sheeting found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, over a third of people (34%) have completed more home improvement projects than in previous years. But with an uplift in DIY projects comes an increase in waste, and the difficulties homeowners face in disposing of this waste has led to an increase in fly-tipping. 

Working with local authorities

Part of the government’s waste management strategy was to work closer with local authorities to increase the frequency and quality of waste collection, so it’s easier for homeowners to recycle. Back in 2019, the government published a consultation on the measures they were taking to increase recycling from homes and businesses that would contribute to the goal of a 65% recycling target for municipal waste by 2035. The goal continues to introduce measures to increase household recycling by local authorities and support the commitments outlined in the Resources and Waste Strategy. 

The proposal outlined launched a call for evidence on the use of booking systems at waste centres, as the government believes this could be contributing to the difficulties householders face when trying to dispose of waste, increasing the risk of fly-tipping. Local authorities implemented booking systems as a way of managing the restrictions imposed during the pandemic, but now that lockdowns and restrictions have lifted, many waste and recycling centres have kept these systems in place.

The government also stated that a number of councils in England will be awarded grants to tackle the fly-tipping issue, such as CCTV to monitor hotspots and educational programmes to encourage a change in behaviour. Buckinghamshire council are also set to use AI technology to tackle fly-tipping, such as automatic number plate recognition and rapid deployment cameras. Some of the councils set to receive the grant include Dover, Telford, Basingstoke, Stevenage and Durham. 

Reducing the risk of rogue operators

The additional benefit to the waste management plan is that it will help to prevent materials falling into the hands of organised waste criminals which can result in fly-tipping on a larger scale. There is also support for digital waste tracking and reform of licensing regimes for carriers, brokers and dealers of waste materials, which would involve those handling waste recording information from the point the waste is produced through to its disposal. 

The hope is that waste tracking will make it easier for regulators to spot illegal activity more quickly and handle it faster. Minimising rubbish and making it easier for homeowners and local businesses to dispose of waste responsibly and affordably is essential to keeping local areas tidy and preventing environmental issues from growing. Environment minister Jo Churchill claimed that fly-tipping costs the government £392m every year, and that changes need to be put in place to put a stop to the issue. 

How will this help homeowners?

There’s been an increase in homeowners wanting to make more sustainable choices and do more for the environment, as talks surrounding the climate crisis have become more prominent. To help minimise a rising problem, the UK is working towards a circular strategy for waste management to preserve energy. 

Household waste accounts for a third of the recycling and other types of recovery, with residual waste accounting for 55%, dry recycling at 27%, and unspecified organics and separate food waste at 16% and 2% respectively. Moving to energy conversion, also known as ‘waste to energy’, ticks two boxes at once as it offers a profitable outlet solution for materials that aren’t available for reuse and household consumers will know that they’re contributing to a better environment. 

Final thoughts

While there’s still much to be done, there is good news on the horizon. The UK published its 25 year Environment Plan to preserve biodiversity and landscapes for the future, as well as ambitious goals for reducing carbon emissions and international agreements. But on a local scale, homeowners can expect changes to domestic recycling, which are intended to significantly increase the percentage of household recycling for the UK by 2035.

Lucy Cromwell is a Property Management Specialist.

Kindly shared by Lucy Cromwell

Main article photo courtesy of Pixabay