Defining a Vision for 2030
We live in a wasteful, throw-away society. In 2017 waste accounted for 16.5 MtCO2e (4% of UK emissions) with 14.7 MtCO2e from landfill (nearly 90%)[1]. The Zero Carbon Britain (ZCB) target is to reduce emissions from waste by 75% to just over 5 MtCO2e. However, this is just the greenhouse gas emissions associated with disposing of waste and takes no account of the embedded carbon in the products or the carbon emitted in getting the goods to market, particularly if they are brought in by ship or plane. So, first we must rethink what we buy as by the time we throw stuff away, our options for recovering the value of the product and the materials it is made from becomes limited. We need to treat waste as a valuable resource that can be reused or recycled, before being burnt with energy recovery. Putting waste in the ground must be a last resort.
This means moving from the traditional manufacturing approach of take, make and dispose, to a circular economy model where we keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them whilst in use, then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of each service life. A circular economy is vital as it reduces waste, drives greater resource productivity, helps reduce the environmental impacts of production and consumption and contributes to a more competitive economy.
[1] Zero Carbon Britain “Rising to the Climate Emergency”
In 2030...
Dorset has embraced the circular economy, supporting innovative businesses to take advantage of waste materials in designing new products, thereby contributing to the green economy.
Dorset continues to deal with the majority (90%+) of waste within its boundaries. The amount of waste produced per person has reduced. No waste is sent to landfill and the county has achieved a 100% recycling rate. As a result, waste GHG emissions have been reduced by at least 75%.
Dorset residents understand the value of buying better to reduce the amount of waste they produce and continue to be enthusiastic re-users and recyclers. Communities have achieved plastic-free status.
This means moving from the traditional manufacturing approach of take, make and dispose, to a circular economy model where we keep resources in use for as long as possible, extract the maximum value from them whilst in use, then recover and regenerate products and materials at the end of each service life. A circular economy is vital as it reduces waste, drives greater resource productivity, helps reduce the environmental impacts of production and consumption and contributes to a more competitive economy.
[1] Zero Carbon Britain “Rising to the Climate Emergency”
In 2030...
Dorset has embraced the circular economy, supporting innovative businesses to take advantage of waste materials in designing new products, thereby contributing to the green economy.
Dorset continues to deal with the majority (90%+) of waste within its boundaries. The amount of waste produced per person has reduced. No waste is sent to landfill and the county has achieved a 100% recycling rate. As a result, waste GHG emissions have been reduced by at least 75%.
Dorset residents understand the value of buying better to reduce the amount of waste they produce and continue to be enthusiastic re-users and recyclers. Communities have achieved plastic-free status.