Government must prevent wasted opportunities says CIWEM
The government's 'zero waste' economy objective has been described as 'desirable but unrealistic' by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management.
In its latest report, CIWEM challenges the government to ensure that 'everyone takes responsibility for waste and put a brake of waste by design.'
In the next two decades, up to three billion people are expected to join the global middle class, coinciding with a 30 percent rise demand for oil, coal, iron ore and other natural resources in just half that time.
"Defra shouldn't bear sole responsibility for this" said CIWEM.
"High profile, cross-government actions from the departments of DECC, DCLG, BIS and the Treasury will be required to make the UK’s economy and society one of the most resource efficient in the world."
Advocating that this is not solely an issue for the waste management industry, the report encourages to Government to ask more from businesses, who currently have full authority to supply products with no environmental responsibility for their impact.
By looking at materials at the beginning of the production process, there is the potential to prevent waste by design.
"Leading businesses have shown that is it possible to undertake circular activities across the supply chain. The circular economy, like energy security and resource efficiency all makes clear business sense.
"We now need to translate and mainstream this ambition throughout the public sector to SMEs and to the wider public."
CIWEM’s Executive Director, Nick Reeves said: "Brave, ambitious and innovative political decision is a must if we are to keep our resource priorities down.
"We welcome the shadow waste and water minister’s recent proposal for an ‘Office for Resource Security’ and pledge to join up policy and drive action across Whitehall. This support for the circular economy is a step in the right direction. We need to stop measuring success by the balance sheet and get a proper fix on our place in a world that is running on empty."
