OPINION: ‘Key policies to look out for in new Labour government’

OPINION: “Labour is committed to reducing waste by moving to a circular economy,” but that manifesto statement left much to the imagination. While Keir Starmer takes 10th place, Grant Thornton’s Net Zero team considers some of the upcoming policies on the waste management horizon.

1. UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS): In 2023, the government confirmed its intention to include Energy from Waste (EfW) facilities in the UK ETS from 2028. Implementation is still subject to consultation (closing 2 August 2024). This additional cost of running EfW is likely to lead to increased use of carbon capture, storage and storage (CCUS) in EfW to reduce carbon emissions. The Labour manifesto pledged “£1 billion to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture”, however this funding is likely to be broad-based and will cover a wide range of industrial emitters.
2. Biodegradable Municipal Waste (BMW) to landfill:From 31 December 2025, there will be a ban on BMWs going to landfill in Scotland. The Welsh Government has also set limits on the amount of BMWs that can go to landfill. However, the rules for England are still subject to consultation. 61 responses were received to the consultation and are currently being considered. The interaction with the UK ETS is critical – incorrect calibration and the ETS change (above) could result in more waste going to landfill if the bans are not implemented.
3. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): UK organisations responsible for packaging waste (e.g. those supplying packaged goods, importing products in packaging or supplying empty packaging) will be required to collect and report packaging data and pay the EPR packaging levy. These levies have been deferred for a year, so will become payable from October 2025.
4. Deposit Return Systems (DRS): DRS is currently under development and is due to be rolled out across the UK in October 2027, meaning a small cash deposit will be charged on drinks containers to encourage their return to a collection point. The scheme was due to launch in Scotland in 2023 but has been delayed.
5. Easier recycling:In May 2024, the government proposed new rules in England that would allow for the collection of municipal waste in at least three bins: one for all dry recycling, one for garden and food waste, and one for residual waste. Councils would be expected to collect residual waste at least every fortnight, in addition to weekly food waste collections from March 2026, unless transitional arrangements are put in place.
6. EfW capacity:The previous government considered the role of EfW plants in managing residual waste, which included a temporary suspension of all new EfW plant permits in England in early 2024. The new Labour government has not yet shared its intentions on this.

How will these policies fare in the upcoming Spending Review? At this critical juncture in the UK’s approach to waste management, Labour cannot be short-sighted; it has an opportunity to be bold, embedding and refining policies that will deliver in the long term, promoting a circular economy, tackling the climate crisis and paving the way for a global movement towards sustainable waste management.

Jennifer Brown will be speaking on ‘The Future of the Environment and Sustainability: 2024’ at the Net Zero Summit on 12 September 2024 (10:15) at the Environmental Services and Solutions Expo, taking place at the NEC in Birmingham. For more information on this year’s event and to register, visit: www.ess-expo.co.uk