Mapping the waste sector’s road to net zero

The waste sector has an unusual relationship with carbon.

Unlike most industries, it rarely controls the materials it handles. By the time waste reaches a recycling facility, an energy from waste (EfW) plant or a landfill site, many of the decisions that shaped its environmental impact have already been made. Packaging has been designed, products have been manufactured and consumers have decided what to buy and how to use it.

That reality framed much of the discussion during our recent webinar on the UK waste sector’s pathway to net zero. Speakers from government, industry and environmental analysis explored what the sector has already achieved and what still needs to happen if the UK is to meet its climate goals.

Titled 'Exploring the UK waste sector pathway to net zero', the webinar was graced by Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) Deputy Director Harry Robinson, Environmental Services Association (ESA) Executive Director Jacob Hayler and Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) Lead Analyst Sam Gillick-Daniels. SUEZ recycling and recovery UK’s Chief Technical Development and Innovation Officer Stuart Hayward-Higham hosted the event.

The webinar made one thing clear. The waste sector has made real progress, but the next stage of the journey will depend on changes across the wider economy.

A plan for the sector

One focus of the discussion was the role of the Net Zero Council, which brings together government, businesses, finance, local authorities and civil society to help move the UK towards net zero.

Part of its work is encouraging sectors to develop their own transition plans. These plans show how an industry can reduce emissions while supporting national climate targets.

In simple terms, they sit between government policy and company action. They help translate national goals into practical steps for a whole sector.

During the webinar, participants were asked whether sectors should develop their own transition plans. The response was clear, with 61% supporting sector plans developed with close government involvement and 32% supporting sector-led plans more broadly. Only a small minority disagreed.

The message from the audience was that collaboration between government and industry is essential.

A sector that has already changed

The waste and resources sector starts from a strong position. Since 1990 it has reduced emissions by more than 70%, largely because far less waste is sent to landfill.

Diverting waste way from landfill has been one of the biggest drivers of emissions reductions. Even sending waste to energy recovery rather than landfill can significantly reduce emissions, saving around 200kg of emissions saved per every tonne of diverted waste.

However, the sector’s emissions are more complex than they might appear. Waste management includes transport, sorting materials for recycling, processing waste and treating what cannot be recycled. When these are considered together, the sector’s emissions are larger than the narrow category often labelled ‘waste’ in official statistics.

At the same time, the sector helps other industries reduce their emissions. Recycling replaces the need for new raw materials, saving energy and carbon in manufacturing. In that sense, the sector contributes to emissions reductions far beyond its own operations.

Why the biggest carbon decisions happen before the bin

A key point raised during the webinar was that many of the factors influencing the sector’s carbon footprint are outside its control.

Manufacturers decide what materials are used in products and packaging. Designers influence whether products can be reused or recycled. Consumers determine how much is bought and used.

The waste sector manages the result of those choices, but it does not set them.

Previous analysis suggests that if the amount of waste produced fell by about one percent each year over two decades, the sector’s overall carbon footprint would fall by a similar amount. Achieving that reduction would require changes in product design, manufacturing and consumer behaviour rather than changes in waste management alone.

The next set of challenges

Even so, the sector still faces major changes within its own operations.

Transport is one example. Waste collection fleets will eventually need to move to zero emission vehicles. Electric vehicles are becoming more realistic, but questions remain about charging infrastructure and how fleets operate day to day.

Recycling operations also depend heavily on energy. As they electricity grid becomes cleaner, the carbon footprint of recycling is expected to fall.

Waste treatment is perhaps the most complex area. Reducing organic waste going to landfill remains important because this waste produces methane emissions. Some in the sector have called for stronger policy measures, such as a ban on sending organic waste to landfill.

Energy from waste facilities present another opportunity. Removing high carbon materials such as plastics from the waste stream can reduce emissions. Installing carbon capture technology at some facilities could reduce emissions further.

However, carbon capture also requires wider infrastructure. Transport networks and storage systems are needed to handle the captured carbon, meaning the sector’s progress depends partly on developments elsewhere.

Working across the whole system

One message came through clearly during the discussion. The waste sector cannot reach net zero on its own.

Its progress depends on decisions made by manufacturers, changes in consumer behaviour and investment in national infrastructure. At the same time, other sectors depend on effective waste management to recover materials and support a more circular economy.

Sector transition plans help clarify what the sector can do, where it depends on others and what support is needed from government and industry.

Looking ahead

Earlier thinking suggested the waste sector might reach net zero by 2040. Current assessments suggest the more realistic target is alignment with the UK’s national goal of reaching net zero by 2050.

Even so, the direction of travel is clear.

The transition plan helps set out what needs to happen next. It identifies the changes required within the sector while highlighting the wider system changes needed to support them.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of communication. Speakers noted that messages about net zero do not always resonate with the public, suggesting that framing the transition around everyday concerns such as cost, jobs and economic opportunity may help the message land more effectively.

For the waste sector, reaching net zero will come from steady progress across infrastructure, technology, policy and everyday decisions about how resources are used.

If you missed the live webinar session, you can watch it on-demand here.