Why Circular Economy Infrastructure should be treated as ‘Critical’

A recent report commissioned by the Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM), has called for coordinated action across government and industry to unlock investment in the UK’s circular economy infrastructure.

The report states that circular economy infrastructure should be treated as ‘critical national infrastructure’ to support the UK’s ‘resource security, resilience and competitiveness’. Data centres received the ‘critical’ designation in 2024 allowing the government to support the sector in the event of critical incidents, minimising impacts on the economy.

Having invested £21 million in our Leicester materials recycling facility in 2011, this report really strikes a chord with us at Casepak, as we see much of the progress that has been made in the sector over the years slowing down at exactly the time when significant investment is really needed.

The CIWM Report, titled Unlocking investment in circular economy (reuse, repair and recycling) infrastructure in the UK, encouragingly reports that capital for investment is available, but it will only be deployed where conditions are right. Currently investors do not have adequate confidence in the UK circular economy.

The way to resolve the issue, according to the report’s conclusions, is for the Government to publish its long-awaited Circular Economy Growth Plan. The plan was originally expected to be published last October but has been delayed. During the summer Defra minister Mary Creagh said the government remains “committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out”. When pushed for a date, the Minister replied that the plan would be published ‘soon’.

For CIWM, and all of us operating in the sector, the publication of the plan cannot happen soon enough. It is hoped that the plan will provide the long-term direction and policy certainty that is required to give investors confidence and that the accompanying sector-specific roadmaps will provide a blueprint for the sector to deliver.

The UK’s waste and recycling industry has modernised and expanded dramatically in the past two decades, and there is the potential for the circular economy to become a key part of the overall economy, making UK PLC more competitive and productive. Our sector has such a key role to play in resource security, waste prevention, job creation and reducing environmental pollution, and with the right conditions in place the UK can become the world leader in circular economy.

However, this golden opportunity will be missed if we don’t have the investment in the infrastructure that is required. We hope that the government’s plan will be published soon (i.e.: in a matter of weeks) and that CIWM’s call to consider circular economy infrastructure as ‘critical’ will be closely examined.