“Zero waste” means no waste at all and we are hoping Wales can get there. If we’re going to win this one we need to make and design things that use fewer resources and that can be reused or recycled. However, everyone needs to be involved; Councils, businesses, homes and you!
Did you know? We are building a plan called “Towards Zero Waste” for Wales that goes from now to 2050.
Targets
By 2025 we want all the businesses, households, offices, councils… in fact, we want everyone to be recycling at least 70% of their waste. By 2050 we hope to be at zero waste.
HOW?
n Reduce the amount of waste we make.
n Encourage everyone to reuse and recycle.
n Make it easy to collect and recycle waste.
n Start by dealing with the waste materials that hurt the environment the most.
n Encourage businesses and shops to take responsibility for the waste they make and the packaging they produce.
n Encourage everyone to buy goods and products that can be recycled or reused.
n Encourage everyone to buy goods and products that can be recycled or reused.
Towards Zero Waste
If we manage to meet these targets we’ll help Wales have a brighter more sustainable future. There could be more innovation, new ideas and greener technologies which would create more jobs and improve skills. This will all help our economy, society, as well as the environment.
Who can help?
The Welsh Assembly Government will work closely with the European and UK Governments to make sure we get the best deal for Wales. Local Councils need to support alternatives to landfill sites, and start thinking of waste as a useful resource.
Business
By re-designing products and packaging we should be able to eliminate waste. Businesses also need to think about their supply chain – this means how they get their products from suppliers to their customers. We hope that turning used materials into new products will help the economy and create jobs. We have projects that give specialist support and we will look for ways to reward businesses that manage waste in the most useful ways.
Communities & households
We all need to think about what we buy, what we use and what we throw away. We all need to participate fully in our local recycling collection and reuse schemes. If you are unsure of your local facilities please visit http://www.wasteawarenesswales.org.uk/
Public Sector
There are so many people working in Councils, in schools, hospitals, on the roads and other public sector jobs in Wales that it could make a big difference. This should range from being able to recycle at work, using more sustainable products, to making waste awareness a central part of how they buy things.