Food waste landfill ban could create over 12,000 jobs

12,100 skilled jobs could be created if food waste was banned from landfill, according to recent figures from the think-tank Green Alliance. The publication cites an AD plant manager, with skills in SCADA training and HNC engineering as an example of the type of jobs that could be created.

The report also estimates that a further 35,400 skilled jobs could be created if wood, textiles, electronics and plastics were banned from landfill. Preventing these materials from being sent to landfill would also allow the UK to cut emissions to such an extent as to be 10% on the way to meeting its fourth carbon budget.

Defra has so far proved reluctant to give legislative backing to banning food waste from landfill, instead relying on voluntary agreements despite the fact that a third of food waste is still landfilled, while only 7% is processed through AD.

The devolved UK administrations are showing far greater ambition here – Scotland has already committed to banning biodegradeable waste to landfill by the end of 2020, while Wales consulted on similar measures last year.

Things will hopefully progress in England as well. As we updated you last year, the Labour Party has committed to banning food waste to landfill if elected in 2015. We will continue to make a strong case toall sides of the political spectrum that banning food waste to landfill, accompanied by backing for separate food waste collections for treatment through AD, can yield significant economic and environmental benefits for the UK.