How the UK waste sector is cutting carbon in real time: landfill methane, EfW, and policy shifts

The UK waste sector has cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 55% since 1990, mostly by reducing methane from landfills. The sector now accounts for about 6% of total UK emissions, down from 10%. Key drivers include better recycling infrastructure, diversion of organic waste from landfill, and a sector-wide net zero target by 2040 with 10 billion pounds in investment. New policies will reshape the landscape. From 2028, waste facilities will join the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, putting a price on fossil carbon in residual waste. Simpler Recycling mandates separate collection of difficult-to-recycle plastics by 2027, and Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging aims to push better design. Experts say carbon capture technology and chemical recycling are needed but not yet at commercial scale in the UK. A major challenge is that the waste sector does not control the materials it receives. The IPCC reporting framework does not credit the sector for carbon savings from recycling, since those savings appear in other industries. Experts argue for cross-sectoral accounting to properly reflect the circular economy's climate impact.