The EU has been the driving force behind England’s resource management policy. But ambivalent implementation has resulted in an inefficient approach to household waste management.

Public money spent on recycling is effectively subsidising poorly designed products and inconsistent collections. Policy in England has stalled, and recycling levels have stopped rising.

As the UK leaves the EU, there is an opportunity to rethink the household recycling system and consider what makes economic sense, rather than just what is necessary to meet targets. This fourth report from the Circular Economy Task Force highlights innovative approaches from around the world where systems work better.

We provide three recommendations, based on this research, to guide a new recycling policy for England.