Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Accepted
Delay in publishing 'simpler recycling' requirements risks missing 2035 municipal recycling target.
Recommendation
It has been over two years since the Department closed its consultation on consistent collections (now known as simpler recycling), and it has not yet finalised or published its requirements. Simpler recycling is crucial for England meeting its municipal target recycling rate of 65% by 2035.21 The Department expects simpler recycling to increase recycling rates from 42% to 52–60% by 2035 which, without significant contributions from other projects, would leave it well short of its 2035 target to recycle 65% of municipal waste.22 Municipal waste is household waste and similar waste from other sources, for example from businesses. We received written evidence from Green Alliance, which told us the 2035 recycling target is increasingly likely to be missed due to the delay to the introduction of the programme.23 The Department’s intention is to publish its requirements for simpler recycling as soon as possible.24
Government Response Summary
The government states the recommendation is implemented, highlighting the publication of the Simpler Recycling consultation response on 21 October 2023 which included materials and implementation dates. It also outlines a multi-layered approach and ongoing policy work, including the MRMW programme, to reach the 65% recycling target by 2035.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
2.5 On 21 October 2023, the department published the government response to the Simpler Recycling consultation, formerly titled Consistency in Recycling in England. This laid out the materials in scope of collections and the implementation dates for Simpler Recycling. 2.6 The department also launched a Consultation on additional policies related to Simpler Recycling in England, and separately consulted the relevant parties on exemptions and statutory guidance for Simpler Recycling in England. Both consultations closed on 20 November 2023 and the department is currently analysing the responses. 2.7 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 2.8 A multi-layered approach is essential to increase recycling rates. The CPR programme will get the department close to the target of a 65% recycling rate in England by 2035 and work is underway on to other policy areas to help reach this target, including the consultation on reviewing the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations. Department officials are currently reviewing the batteries regulations ahead of a consultation expected later this year which aims to drive up the volume of batteries that are collected and treated safely when they become waste. This complements the consultation on waste electricals published on 28 December 2023 and is available at Electrical waste: reforming the producer responsibility system in electrical equipment. Making it easier for householders to properly discard these items when they become waste can boost levels of recycling and reduce the risk of fires posed by their improper disposal. 2.9 Modelling suggests that meeting the commitment to achieve a 65% municipal recycling rate by 2035 will require policies beyond CPR. Further work is required to identify potential policies beyond CPR and their potential contributions towards meeting the commitment. 2.10 The department has developed waste and resource related indicators in the Outcome Indicator Framework (OIF) which, alongside the annual progress reports, monitor progress towards delivering the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP). There are several Outcome Indicator Framework indicators for ‘maximise resources, minimise waste’, one of which is the J3: Municipal waste recycling rates (defra.gov.uk) indicator. This currently uses an interim indicator of waste from household recycling rates. The department’s Resources and Waste statistics team are working to develop a statistical, data-driven definition of municipal waste and a municipal recycling rate metric with which to report progress against the commitment to achieve a 65% municipal recycling rate by 2035. These will feed into new statistical reporting publications and will be able to replace the OIF interim indicator. As part of work to refine the municipal recycling rate metric in development, the team have commissioned several projects looking into the origin of mixed waste codes such as chapter 19 codes, and the estimated tonnages of material rejected at recycling facilities that is then sent on to residual waste treatment. It is hoped that these projects will allow the department to report the rate of municipal waste that is actually recycled rather than the rate of municipal waste that is sent for recycling, as can be derived from currently available waste data, and identify tonnages of mixed waste codes that should be included or excluded from any definition of municipal waste. 2.11 The recently published Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste programme (MRMW) sets out the department’s priorities for action to manage resources and waste in accordance with the waste hierarchy and supports the department’s drive to reaching this target and focusses on areas with biggest waste arisings.