There has been widespread positive media coverage following the announcement that new waste incinerators will only receive planning approval if they meet strict new local and environmental conditions.
Publications including BBC Online, Independent, Daily Mail, Morning Star and Dorset Echo amongst others covered the announcement, which marks a significant step in the Government's approach to dealing with waste in a way that works for communities, is fit for the future, and delivers on the Plan for Change.
Over the last 14 years, England has seen recycling rates stall, meaning too much waste is dealt with through incineration or thrown in landfill. Almost half of all waste (49%) collected by local authorities in 2022/23 was incinerated, with just 40% recycled.
New evidence - published today in the Residual Waste Infrastructure Capacity Note - shows that tougher new requirements for proposed waste incinerators will not negatively affect the country's capacity to process waste and should decrease the amount sent to landfill.
Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said:
"For far too long, the nation has seen its recycling rates stagnate and relied on burning household waste, rather than supporting communities to keep resources in use for longer.
"That ends today, with clear conditions for new energy from waste plants - they must be efficient and support net zero and our economic growth mission, before they can get the backing needed to be built.
"This is another vital step on the pathway to a circular economy, where we reduce waste to landfill and boost the economy, while also ensuring those facilities maximise the benefits to communities. This will also help us deliver on our Plan for Change in a decade of national renewal."