This strategy sets out actions and measures aimed to preserve the national stock of material resources by minimizing waste, promoting resource efficiency and moving towards a circular economy. At the same time it seeks to minimize the damage caused to the natural environment by reducing and managing waste safely and carefully, and by tackling waste crime. The instrument combines actions to be taken now with commitments for the coming years and gives a clear longer-term policy direction in line with the 25 Year Environment Plan. The strategy is composed of the following Chapters: 1) Sustainable production; 2) Helping consumers take more considered action; 3) Recovering resources and managing waste; 4) Tackling waste crime; 5) Enough is enough: cutting down on food waste; 6) Global Britain: international leadership; 7) Research and innovation; 8) Measuring progress: data, monitoring and evaluation. Chapter 1 on sustainable production recalls the polluter pays principle. It sets out measures to stimulate demand for recycled plastic by introducing a tax on plastic packaging; harness the potential of extended producer responsibility for other product types; set minimum requirements through ecodesign to encourage resource efficient product design; manage chemicals sustainably and address barriers to reuse and recycling posed by their use, through a Chemicals Strategy; develop a model for realizing resource efficiency savings, working with businesses through resource efficiency clusters. Chapter 3 lays down more specific measures and action for resource recovery and waste management, such as: improve recycling rates; reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfill by ensuring that every householder and appropriate businesses have a weekly separate food waste collection; drive greater efficiency of Energy from Waste (EfW) plants; encourage waste producers and managers to implement the waste hierarchy in respect to hazardous waste. Concerning food waste prevention, the strategy specifies how to: more effectively redistribute food to those who need it most before it can go to waste; consult on annual reporting of food surplus and waste by food businesses; consult on legal powers to introduce food waste targets and surplus food redistribution obligations; publish a new food surplus and waste hierarchy.
大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国 · 2018-01-01