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The Future of Waste: What Could Happen in 2025

A new year is here, and thus, new developments, plans, and predictions soon will follow. As each year passes, the world becomes more and more environmentally aware and socially responsible; as global awareness of sustainability grows, there are bound to be changes in many approaches to waste management. Here are a few things we predict or are planned to happen over the next 12 months.

New Reforms or Regulations

In the past decade, there have been many different reforms and regulations discussed by the government to help embrace resource efficiency and create a healthier planet – some have been implemented, such as the plastic packaging tax. Others have had a bumpier ride and had some hurdles to jump, like the Deposit Return Scheme. However, there are some which are planned for implementation in 2025 – one of which is Simpler Recycling, 2025.

By 31st March 2025, English businesses and organisations with 10 or more full-time equivalent employees will need to separate recyclable materials from general waste. By 31st March 2026, the new legislation rolls out to households. Local Authorities will have to provide services that allow householders to separate recyclables. By 31st March 2027, lastly, it extends to businesses with less than 10 full-time employees. At this point everyone will also need to separate plastic film, packaging, and bags.

What material will be separated?

  • Paper
  • Cardboard
  • Plastic bottles, pots, tubs, and trays
  • Glass
  • Metal tins, cans, aerosols, lids, food trays, and foil
  • Food waste – You can read more about this new reform in our blog.

Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (Packaging EPR) is due to commence in October 2025, with annual disposal costs payable by producers from the financial year 2025 – 2026. This is another step towards a reform that has seen many setbacks. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy that holds producers responsible for their products throughout their life cycle, including after they are used by consumers. EPR aims to achieve environmental goals, such as recycling targets, by:

  • Increasing the recyclability and reusability of packaging
  • Reducing packaging that ends up in landfills or on the streets (clear label indicating whether it can be recycled or not)
  • Improving the quality of materials used for recycling
  • Reducing “excessive” packaging

How EPR works?

  • Producers pay fees to cover the costs of collecting, sorting, and recycling waste
  • Producers generate detailed information about their products, production, waste generation, and treatment
  • Local authorities receive funding from producers to cover the costs of waste collection and disposal

AI Advances

Like many industries, AI and technological advances are helping to improve how we work. The waste industry is no different and will likely see many advances during 2025. AI-enabling streamlining and waste sorting can help the future of waste management —an intelligent way that can quickly, accurately, and effectively sort waste or provide end-of-life solutions. There is likely to also be a surge in automated equipment, which can detect wrongfully discarded waste and support effective recycling. This, in turn, will help reduce common problems such as cross-contamination and missed recycling opportunities, all of which help improve recycling rates.

Further improvements for recyclability

Finally, as we take a moment to look at the waste industry as a whole, we can only predict more exciting developments to help improve our sector. Advances in digital waste tracking seem inevitable, alongside further improvements to government reforms e.g. DRS. We hope for further funding to improve the waste industry, whether this is in machinery, technology or processes to increase the UKs recycling capcity. Finally, we hope for consistency and improvements in clarity and communication – both of which will help create a cohesive industry where we are all working towards the same goal – this will only mean success for us and, as such, the planet.

Need help with your waste management this year? Speak to Cromwell, and we can help you find a bespoke, appropriate, circular solution.