Promote a circular economy
Last Updated on September 12, 2024
Design policies that stimulate innovation, incentivise resource conservation, waste reduction, and the reuse and recycling of materials
All councils need to recycle more to meet the government’s target of a 65% rate for England by 2035, with no more than 10% of waste sent to landfills. In 2022/23, out of a total 333 English local authorities, only 5 had household waste recycling rates of 60% or higher, down from 7 in 2021/22. 67 authorities had recycling rates greater than 50%. (see Friends of The Earth)
Waste reduction and food – B&H scored 50%
The average score for single tier councils was 37%
Brighton and Hove Council scored well on things like its efforts to reduce single use plastic in its buildings and events; promoting a circular economy; having a sustainable food strategy and supporting initiatives to redistribute surplus food as well as supporting local food growing.
It scored less well in response to the following questions:
Do schools in the council area serve less meat in school meals?
This question was weighted high
Score: 0/1
Criteria met if the council does any one of the following:
– There is one complete vegetarian only day a week on the school menu on the council website
– The council’s in-house catering has a policy to reduce meat in meals by 20% and provide plant-based alternatives, or runs a meat-free mondays or other vegetarian only days in schools
– The council requires external catering providers for schools to reduce meat in meals by 20% and provide plant-based alternatives, or runs a meat-free mondays or other vegetarian only days in schools
Evidence: https://caterlinkltd.co.uk/my-caterlink/
The link to evidence points to Caterlink, a private company which describes itself as “specialist caterers in the education sector” providing schools “with a choice of homemade, nutritious and well-balanced meals” including meat.
44 single tier councils got a full score of 1.0/1 including Blackpool Council and Bolton Council
Blackpool Council: In an appendix to its action plan, the section on food and waste includes this paragraph
ID 58 In light of service the quality standards changing in recent years, meat free Mondays, meat reduction generally and using better quality meat from local farms has become a priority. Further discussions are being arranged with catering services to ensure low carbon is a focus. Meal selection systems have been implemented into primary schools to streamline production planning, reducing food waste.
Bolton Council: Bolton Council’s school meals catering managers attended a one-day course provided by the Vegetarian Society Cookery School in Altrincham with a view to introducing more vegetarian and vegan options (However it is not clear whether this has led to a reduction in meat based meals)
Does the council provide kerbside food waste recycling?
This question was weighted ‘medium’
Score: 0/1
Criteria met if the council provides kerbside food waste recycling to most homes in the area.
This document (2030 Carbon Neutral Programme Annual Report 2021-22) states “The council, in partnership with East Sussex County Council and Veolia, continues to explore options for introducing a food waste collection service and increasing the type of materials collected for recycling.”
122 single tier councils got a full score of 1/1
Bristol City Council has a comprehensive recycling bin system with different coloured bins (black, green, blue, brown) for recycling a full range of household waste, including food.
How high is the councils’ area wide annual recycling rate?
This question was weighted ‘medium’
Score: 0/3
Three Tier Criteria:
- Criteria met if the council has a recycling rate of 50% or more.
- Additional points awarded if the council has a recycling rate of 60% and
- further points awarded if the council has a recycling rate of 70% or more.
Evidence: no evidence available
Only 4 single tier councils got the full score of 3.0/3, all of whom were in Wales. The letsrecycle.com does give a league table which shows Brighton and Hove. Below is data extracted from their league table as follows:
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