Consultation launches on most comprehensive Net Zero Transition Plan for the resources and waste sector

As an essential service provider to the UK economy, the resources and waste sector represents 6% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. It collects, sorts, treats, recovers value from and safely disposes the materials from households, businesses and public services – keeping the streets clean, protecting public health, and enabling thriving local economies and environments.

But the sector is at the mercy of what enters the waste stream and emissions are a resultant mix, warns a consortium of key industry bodies that is setting out a practical sector plan towards net zero.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the resources and waste sector are a complex mix of the sectors’ own operations combined with influences upstream from a range of factors including product design and consumption, packaging choices, construction activity, food waste, recycling markets, and public behaviour.

These factors mean a complicated path for the sector to reach net zero. The consortium has opened a consultation on what it believes to be the most comprehensive and practical transition plan for the sector to achieve this goal.

The group, which comprises of the steering committee for the transition plan’s development, includes ADEPT, CIWM, enfinium, ESA, FCC Environment, NAWDO, SUEZ, WRA and WRAP, [IP1]is urging the sector to take part in the consultation – marked by a special reception held during London Climate Action Week, hosted by REA and Madano.

Catherine David, CEO at WRAP said: ““Nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions globally are caused by the things we extract, make, buy and throw away. The resources and waste sector will be at the heart of achieving net zero in the UK and globally – not only by preventing emissions from landfill and incineration, but also by driving waste prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The UK is leading the way when it comes to transition planning, and I’m proud to work with the sector and the UK Government’s Net Zero Council to develop the Sector Transition Plan for the Resources and Waste Sector: this will give us the vision and the pathway to a more resilient UK economy, centring growth and resilience in our pursuit of a truly circular system. With “Zero Waste” high on the agenda for this year’s COP31, I believe this approach could become a blueprint for others round the world looking to accelerate action towards net zero.”

The consultation, launched by WRAP, seeks feedback from businesses, investors and stakeholders across the resources and waste sector, ahead of the publication of the plan later this year. The draft transition plan has been developed as a sector-led roadmap aligned with the work of the UK Net Zero Council.

It aims to provide a shared framework for decision-making, outlining the actions that can be taken by the sector itself, alongside the policy, infrastructure and investment support required from government and other industries.

The draft Sector Transition Plan identifies five key areas for action to reduce emissions from managing resources and waste:

Reducing biodegradable waste sent to landfill.
Increasing landfill methane capture.
Diverting plastics from energy-from-waste facilities.
Capturing fossil carbon from energy-from-waste through carbon capture and storage.
Transitioning collection and transport fleets to zero-emission vehicles.
Delivering these changes will require significant collaboration across the sector. It is vital that the final plan reflects operational realities, identifies barriers and opportunities, and provides a credible pathway for the sector’s transition.

It is estimated that between £29bn and £40bn of investment will be required to deliver the necessary infrastructure and operational changes. ESA members have already committed around £10bn towards recycling infrastructure, and while significant funding gaps remain, the plan presents an economic opportunity.

WRAP estimates a circular economy could contribute over £77bn Gross Value Added to the UK.

WRAP and partners are urging organisations and stakeholders across the resources and waste sector to review the proposed priorities, actions and timescales. The consultation will gauge whether the plan accurately reflects the sector’s emissions challenges, if the proposed interventions are realistic and achievable, and if the identified dependencies on government policy and external infrastructure have been appropriately assessed. Respondents are also invited to comment on the assumptions underpinning the modelling, the scale of investment required, and the sequencing of actions needed to reach net zero by 2050.

Without widespread feedback, warns the consortium, any net zero plans for the resources and waste sector risk becoming little more than a series of ambitious goals with no practical ways to meet them. The consultation is being held to prevent this and to engage stakeholders across the sector. It will ensure the group can shape the final version of the transition plan into a credible and practical plan which it will present to government and the Net Zero Council.

Responses to the consultation are due by 23 July 2026.