Labour says it would aim for zero-waste economy by 2050

Shadow environment secretary says other similar countries have same target and it would save billions of pounds

A Labour government would aim for a zero-waste economy by 2050, the shadow environment secretary has said.

Steve Reed said the measure would save billions of pounds and also protect the environment from mining and other negative actions. He was speaking at the Restitch conference in Coventry, held by the thinktank Create Streets.

Labour is finalising its agenda for green renewal and Reed indicated a zero-waste economy would be part of this.

This would mean the amount of waste going to landfill would be drastically reduced and valuable raw materials including plastic, glass and minerals reused, which would save money for businesses who would not have to buy, import or create raw materials.

Reed said the Conservative government made this pledge in 2011 but little progress had been made towards it: “The government published a strategy, but they failed to do very much with it.”

Reed said a zero-waste economy was achievable and that other comparable countries were aiming for it by 2050: “A series of other countries – the Netherlands, Belgium – smaller than us but similar in many respects, have got objectives to become zero-waste economies by 2050 and that has huge economic benefits. I’ve seen analysis that shows it adds a £70bn boost to the economy.” He added the UK should “set ourselves an objective like that”.

He said the measure did not require a large amount of public investment because the government could work with businesses who would then benefit from having cheaper materials with which to make their goods.

Reed said the measure had “benefit after benefit after benefit”.

“Regulation would give businesses the confidence to invest in their facilities and they can be reusing materials rather than mining and using brand new materials. We would lower our emissions, improve security in the supply chain, and lower input costs for the UK economy which in turn improves productivity.”

Cover photo: In a zero-waste economy the amount going to landfill would be drastically reduced and valuable raw materials would be reused. Photograph: Andrew Fox/Getty Images