Increasing recycling rates of municipal waste and plastic packaging

Published: Updated:

The Commission recommends that government should set a target for recycling 65 per cent of municipal waste and 75 per cent of plastic packaging by 2030. Government should set individual targets for all local authorities and provide financial support for transitional costs. The government should establish:

  • Separate food waste collection for households and businesses (to enable production of biogas) by 2025.
  • Clear two symbol labelling (recyclable or not recyclable) across the UK by 2022.
  • A consistent national standard of recycling for households and businesses by 2025.
  • Restrictions on the use of hard-to-recycle plastic packaging (PVC and polystyrene) by 2025.
  • Incentives to reduce packaging and for product design that is more easily recyclable by 2022.
  • A common data reporting framework for businesses handling commercial and industrial waste by the end of 2019, ideally through voluntary reporting but if necessary by legislation.

Share this article

<

Recent Articles

NIC is now part of NISTA
The NISTA logo

NIC is now part of NISTA

The National Infrastructure Comission is no longer operating. As of 1 April 2025, the Commission has been combined with the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) to form a new organisation, the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), a unit within HM Treasury. NISTA combines the long term strategic policy expertise of the Commission with...

1 Apr 2025 By
Lower Thames Crossing decision “excellent news” for connectivity
A motorway at night showing car headlights

Lower Thames Crossing decision “excellent news” for connectivity

The government has announced that a development consent order for the Lower Thames Crossing project has been approved by the Secretary of State for Transport. The 14.5 mile long route will connect the A2/M2 in Kent to the A13/M25 in Essex, and include the UK’s longest road tunnel, when built.   In response, Sir John Armitt,...

25 Mar 2025 By
Armitt: Heathrow incident highlights need for resilience stress testing
Planes parked at Heathrow Airport

Armitt: Heathrow incident highlights need for resilience stress testing

Heathrow Airport has been closed all day today (Friday 21 March) by its operator due to a significant fire in a nearby electrical substation which supplies the airport with power. In response, National Infrastructure Commission Chair Sir John Armitt said: “Today’s incident highlights the need for infrastructure operators to be fully prepared for dealing with...

21 Mar 2025 By

Evidence_Icon_Turquoise Created with Sketch.

Explore data used in the Commission's research, and gain insights from across UK infrastructure