Circular economy and waste route map to 2030: strategic environmental assessment - environmental report

7 Cumulative effects

Table 5 summarises the nature of the overall impacts of each package in the Route Map. A key is provided on the subsequent page.

It is anticipated that the combined effect system-wide improvements across all of the Route Map packages will maximise positive environmental impacts. For example, the increased awareness and behaviour change towards products and materials as a result of the promotion of responsible consumption and reuse may also positively influence behaviours around food waste. Driving food waste up the waste hierarchy may improve awareness around source segregation of waste and could in turn improve both household and commercial recycling quality. Improved reuse and recycling behaviours in workplaces and on commercial premises may encourage better recycling in households, and vice versa. Improved separation of recyclables will result in lower volumes of fossil materials e.g. plastic being incinerated, thus minimising the carbon impact of residual waste disposal. Interventions in the construction and demolition sector should reinforce a culture of reuse and recycling over disposal. It is anticipated that interactions like these will support the desired Route Map outcomes across packages, maximising environmental and societal benefits.

Due to the high-level nature of the plan, this SEA focuses mainly on long-term impacts. Short-term impacts or unintended consequences are possible when specific interventions or policies are developed and implemented. These should be considered in their own future impact assessment processes where appropriate.

Key

+: Only (significant) positive impacts expected.

+/?: Impacts are expected to be mostly positive but may be offset to some extent by potential negative impacts.

N/A: No impacts identified