England’s circular economy taskforce plots move away from ‘take, make, throw’
The UK Government has announced the Circular Economy Taskforce for England – an independent advisory group set up to support the development of England’s circular economy strategy, comprised of experts from across academia, waste management, engineering and environmental charities.
The team includes Andrew Morlet, former chief executive of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation; Paul Elkins, professor of resources and environmental policy at University College London as deputy chair; and Stuart Hayward-Higham, chief technical development and innovation officer with Suez.
The taskforce will be integral in identifying the opportunities and hurdles to navigate towards the reduction of waste and the extraction of maximum value from our resources across a range of supply chains in the waste sector and industry.
Quoted on Materials Recycling World (MRW), taskforce member, Wayne Hubbard, chief executive with ReLondon, commented: “The Government’s Circular Economy Taskforce marks a real opportunity to move away from our current linear ‘take, make, throw’ economic model and make real progress towards a low carbon, circular economy – with the added benefits of economic growth and social value.”
[This] marks a real opportunity to move away from our current linear ‘take, make, throw’ economic model and make real progress towards a low carbon, circular economy.
Dr Colin Church, chief executive with the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, and also on the taskforce, welcomed the government’s initiative in bringing the group together: “This taskforce is a novel approach from the government to addressing the substantial challenge of converting our largely linear economy to a more circular one.”
However, there have been criticisms of the composition of the taskforce, specifically its lack of representation from manufacturing, service and demolition sectors.
Endurance managing director, Neil Jeremiah, commented: “It’s very encouraging that a circular economy strategy is now in development at the highest reaches of UK government. We have to be smarter about the way we seek, use and leverage our resources, whatever they might be. However, I’m disappointed that there isn’t more direct representation from the construction industry on the taskforce – a sector accounting for more than 60% of the UK’s total waste. We are navigating our way towards a circular economy while also juggling the pressing need for more housing in the UK, so the construction industry is going to be key in achieving those aims simultaneously.”
It’s very encouraging that a circular economy strategy is now in development at the highest reaches of UK government. We have to be smarter about the way we seek, use and leverage our resources, whatever they might be.
The taskforce is set to conclude its work by the autumn with the publication of the strategy.
For a full list of taskforce members click here
Read the MWR article in full click here
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