The challenge

What we do about waste has a major impact on our environment. Cutting down on the amount of waste produced, reducing our use of natural resources, recycling and composting materials and recovering energy from those we can no longer use is a vital part of reaching net zero carbon emissions.

• 75,000 tonnes of household waste is generated in the County every year. This has fallen from 92,000 tonnes in 2002 showing a decline of 18%.
• 41% is sent for recycling and composting which compares unfavourably with the highest performing local authorities who achieve recycling rates of around 60%.
• Even with the opening of an Energy from Waste facility in 2017, up to 20% of Herefordshire’s waste continues to be sent to landfill.

The solutions

The National Resources and Waste Strategy 2018 sets out how we will preserve our stock of material resources by minimising waste and promoting resource efficiency.

The strategy outlines a package of measures to bring about a more sustainable circular economy:

• Extended producer responsibility (companies that put products on the market should be responsible for the full lifecycle of those products and packaging. By making them responsible, they have more incentive to make less waste, and to recycle more)
• Deposit return schemes
• Consistent recycling collections
• Weekly food waste collection
• Improved product packaging design and labelling

A sustainable circular economy

The national targets are:

• 65% recycling rate for municipal (household and commercial) solid waste (2035)
• Municipal waste to landfill 10% or less (2035)

In view of future national policy Herefordshire Council undertook a public consultation (Dec 2019 – Feb 2021) on its review of its domestic and commercial waste service from 2023 onwards. The review will inform the future of our waste collection and disposal services.

Potential key areas of focus for waste

Waste reduction to landfill

• Divert waste from landfill through reuse
• Expand capacity of Energy from Waste plant
• Identify areas of excess waste
• Education and enforcement

Reuse

• Provide new council services
• Work with social community sectors
• Develop an online reuse directory

Recycling

• Increase quality of materials collected
• Encourage use of recycling services and deposit return schemes
• Explore the potential to collect more materials

Composting

• Separate garden waste collection services
• Potential home and community composting schemes

Food waste

• Provide a weekly food waste collection
• Develop and promote food waste reduction campaigns

Business waste

• Businesses are able to access funding, advice and information to reduce their waste.

Community/partnership working

• Encourage and promote community group recycling and waste reduction projects
• Production of online information resources
• Engagement with residents, community, schools and businesses

Campaigns

• Develop targeted campaigns, for example on food waste and the reduction of single-use plastics

Reducing emissions in waste is complex and will need to involve a wide range of stakeholders including businesses, community groups, schools, public services and Herefordshire’s residents.