England has launched an ambitious new strategy to transition to a circular economy, as startling government figures reveal some local councils are sending over 90% of residual waste to landfill. With recycling rates stagnating and the population projected to grow, ministers say the time has come for decisive action to change how resources are used and disposed of.
Landfill Reliance Exposed
New data published Monday laid bare England’s continuing dependence on landfill, with Essex County Council topping the list by dumping 95% of non-recycled waste. Six other authorities reported landfilling over 40% in 2022-23:
- Cambridgeshire County Council: 87%
- Southend Borough Council: 74%
- Darlington Borough Council: 61%
- Lancashire County Council: 59%
- Leicester City Council: 57%
- Newcastle City Council: 56%
Currently, residual waste is either incinerated for energy or landfilled. But as the population grows, experts say packaging must be made more recyclable and less wasteful to reduce garbage. The government has set targets for councils to landfill no more than 10% of municipal waste by 2035.
Circular Economy Push
To accelerate the shift, ministers unveiled a suite of measures to boost recycling and reuse, including:
- Simpler recycling rules to reduce confusion
- A deposit return scheme for plastic bottles
- “Polluter pays” fees for excess packaging waste
- Tougher planning rules for incinerators
The plans aim to incentivize a circular model where manufacturers prioritize recycled and recyclable materials. But they face headwinds, with household recycling rates falling from 44.1% in 2021 to 43.4% in 2022.
“That ends today, with clear conditions for new energy from waste plants,” declared Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh. “This is another vital step on the pathway to a circular economy, where we reduce waste to landfill and boost the economy.”
Incineration Curbs
Nearly half of council waste was incinerated in 2022-23. To prioritize recycling instead, planning permission for new incinerators will be tightened. Developers must show projects lower landfilled waste, are efficient, support net zero goals, are carbon capture-ready, and utilize their heat output.
While energy-from-waste provides about 3% of UK electricity, the Environmental Services Association said development must be balanced against future capacity needs. Capturing emissions and expanding district heating can help decarbonize the sector by 2040.
Councils Respond
Authorities with high landfill rates cited long-term contracts and infrastructure limits. Lancashire council said 59% of its waste is landfilled due to legacy agreements, but thermal treatment from 2025 and contract expiry in 2026 will slash that to minimal levels for untreatable materials only.
The road to a circular economy is long, with major changes needed in production and consumption. But with landfill space finite and the climate in crisis, England has resolved it can no longer afford to bury its rubbish problem. Carrots and sticks wielded together, ministers hope, can spark a recycling revolution to turn the tide on waste.
