Progress of the recycling and waste sector in the UK in meeting net zero

Emily Greene • 7 August 2023

Emily Greene, Policy Analyst with the Broadway Initiative, provides an update on the progress of the recycling and waste sector in meeting net zero.

On Wednesday 19th July, I attended an afternoon reception hosted by the Environmental Services Association (ESA) and Policy Connect in the House of Lords. The event focused on the progress of the recycling and waste sector in the UK in meeting net zero. The event also highlighted the launch of the ESA’s new report Supporting a Net Zero Recycling & Waste Sector: Policy Scorecard 2023.


The event had speeches from the Parliamentary host, Lord Teverson, Shadow Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Alex Sobel MP, Policy Connect’s Chief Executive Claudia Jaksch and Senior Executive Vice President of Veolia Gavin Graveson. 


A key commonality of the speeches was the sector’s need for clear policy that provides certainty for the sector as they navigate the demands of net zero.  The sector has pledged to invest more than £10 billion over the next decade in recycling infrastructure, however, this relies on long term certainty in the market. While government has published a robust policy plan in the 2018 Resources & Waste Strategy, key delivery has been delayed.


The event was an excellent opportunity for me to hear more about sector plans for net zero and the barriers, particularly those in policy, that the sector faces. This is a key focus of my own role in the Broadway Initiative as we are the secretariat of the Net Zero Council. A key delivery for the council is to support and help develop business sector net zero roadmaps. ESA’s Policy Scorecard  concisely lays out progress in key policy areas for the sector that will support efforts for a circular economy and decarbonisation in the UK.

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