The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published a delivery plan setting out how England will reduce residual waste to 287kg per capita by 2042, a reduction of approximately 50 per cent from 2019 levels.

The plan, covering all waste arising except mineral wastes, establishes an interim target of 437kg per capita by December 2030, representing a 24 per cent reduction from 2019 levels. At 558kg per capita in 2023, England will need to reduce residual waste by an additional 21.7 per cent in four years to meet the 2030 target.

Defra's analysis identifies three collection and packaging reforms as the primary delivery mechanisms, with the government saying these measures are expected to contribute between 82 per cent and 100 per cent of the reductions needed to meet the interim targets.

Collection and packaging reforms

The government identifies Simpler Recycling, packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR), and the planned Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)as the primary delivery mechanisms for meeting the interim targets.

Defra's modelling anticipates a 23 per cent reduction in residual waste per capita by 2029 will result from the combined impact of these three measures. Its analysis states that collection and packaging reforms will contribute between 82 per cent and 100 per cent of the reduction needed to meet the 2030 interim target.

The delivery plan positions Simpler Recycling, which began for most businesses in March this year, with household implementation from March 2026, as a key driver. In addition, pEPR phased in from this April is expected to incentivise producers to improve packaging recyclability and provide local authorities with finances to improve recycling services.

The Deposit Return Scheme, scheduled for October 2027 launch, sets collection targets of 76 per cent for PET and 71 per cent for aluminium and steel cans, rising to 90 per cent for both materials by 2030 once fully operational.

Defra has also committed to publishing a circular economy growth plan in early 2026. The strategy, which was recently delayed, will be informed by the work of the Circular Economy Taskforce that is developing sector-specific roadmaps for five priority sectors: textiles, transport, construction, agri-food, and chemicals & plastics.

The delivery plan states that after publication of the circular economy growth plan, Defra will be able to assess the anticipated impacts of further policies on reducing residual waste and review the interim target ambition when appropriate.

Target metrics

The delivery plan includes eight interim targets by December 2030. These comprise a target that residual waste excluding major mineral wastes does not exceed 437kg per capita, that total residual waste does not exceed 25.5 million tonnes, and that residual municipal waste does not exceed 333kg per capita (for municipal waste Wales achieved 168kg per capita in 2023/24).

Material-specific targets for residual municipal waste include 64kg per capita for food waste, 42kg for plastic waste, 74kg for paper and card waste, 10kg for metal waste, and 7kg for glass waste.

The target metric is reported annually in Defra's Estimates of Residual Waste and Municipal Residual Waste in England statistical notice. The most recent year with available data is 2023, with figures reported with approximately a 15-month lag due to the time taken to receive and quality assure data.