A new market research report released by the Environmental Services Association aims to provide an overview of the recycling and waste treatment sector and its policy environment for government ministers.
The Environmental Services Association (ESA) said the current policy environment is currently undergoing a once-in-a-generation reform that will have profound effects on the market and the complexion of waste and recycling services.
The inclusion of Energy-from-Waste in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) from 2028 (with reporting starting in 2026) is currently under consultation.
The ESA said this represents a “fundamental shake-up” of the economics of the sector which could result in negative unintended consequences for councils and businesses if not implemented correctly.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging, changes to kerbside collection services under Simpler Recycling and a deposit return scheme are all due to be introduced within the next Parliament, alongside more granular regulatory reforms.
Numerous commencement deadlines for these changes are rapidly approaching and relevant policy-makers will need to quickly get to grips with the complexities of the sector, the ESA said.
The ESA said if the new government support the successful implementation of these policies it could unlock billions in investment, create new jobs and deliver a more circular, lower-carbon, economy.
The report brings together current data for waste volumes and flows with commentary on current and future economic and policy drivers for the sector’s core activities and its decarbonisation plans, the ESA said.
The report UK Recycling and Waste Treatment Market Overview was compiled by independent consultancy Tolvik Consulting Ltd (Tolvik), which is a specialist provider of market analysis and commercial advisory services to the waste and bioenergy sectors across the UK and Europe.
The full report is available exclusively to ESA members but will be distributed directly to parliamentarians and relevant stakeholders.
