After 2 weeks of intense negotiations, COP26 – the United Nations’ most recent climate summit in Glasgow – has come to an end, culminating in the Glasgow Climate Pact. Though some might argue that any progress made is nowhere near enough, the summit has resulted in some key takeaways for governments, businesses, and individuals across the world.
Great Western Recycling are a waste management and recycling provider based in Bristol. We’re dedicated to minimising environmental impact – our own and that of our clients. For years, we’ve been helping companies in a variety of sectors think more clearly about how they manage their waste, and eliminate their reliance on landfill.
In this article, we highlight some of the key COP26 takeaways for the waste management industry and the businesses it serves.
For key definitions of COP26 and ‘carbon jargon’, check out this guide to jargon by HKW Risk Management. Covering everything from COP26 hashtags to various carbon definitions and goals, the informative blog is key to understanding the conclusions of COP26.
5 Key Takeaways from COP26 for the Waste Management Industry
The Global Methane Pledge
An important point of progress during COP26 was the Global Methane Pledge. This came about after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned delegates that methane gas was a significant factor contributing to global warming.
The resulting pledge aims to limit methane gas emissions by 30% compared to 2020 levels – and over 100 countries have committed to it!
At Great Western Recycling, we’ve known the dangers of methane for a long time – that’s why we’re so dedicated to helping our clients achieve zero waste to landfill. Whilst the initial focus of the pledge is on the fossil fuel industry, waste companies and business also need to step up.
Landfills produce high levels of methane alongside CO2 and leachate. Collectively, we have an opportunity to make a real impact on the rate of methane production if we eradicate landfill use entirely.
Zero Waste to Landfill Policies & Strategies – How to Achieve Zero Waste to Landfill >
Climate Action Plans
COP26 saw the launch of a new scheme called the Urban Climate Action Programme (UCAP). This is being supported by the UK with an initial £27.5m of funding. In essence, the fund is intended to help cities across the world transition to net zero using a series of innovative new action plans. These include different projects incorporating renewable energy, low-emission transport, and sustainable waste management.
Sustainable waste management has a huge role to play in this crucial decade. Don’t believe us? According to WRAP, better resource efficiency has the potential to reduce global emissions by 2 billion tonnes! By limiting waste production in the first place, and then dealing with any unavoidable waste in non-linear ways, businesses can make a real impact.
Find out more: How to Reduce Business Waste >
Importance of Private Sector
Corporations have a significant role to play in the future of our planet. The corporate agenda increasingly influences the decisions of governing institutions, so it’s just as important for businesses to back climate pledges. Climate change won’t be solved just by governments.
COP26 saw some progress on this front. In the fashion industry, well-known brands including Zara, Levi Strauss, and Primark signed up to the Fashion Charter which aims to cut emissions by 50% by 2030, and achieve net zero by 2050 (source).
Throughout the summit, there were plenty of other examples of businesses stepping forward and pledging to meet climate targets and cut emissions.
Have you made your climate pledge yet? As a business owner or responsible person, you have an opportunity to lead your organisation towards a better, greener future, and contribute to the world’s net zero ambitions. By implementing better waste management and resource efficiency, you could significantly cut your emissions and save money too!
Why is Waste Management Important for Business in the UK? >
Creating Sustainable Cities
Another important talking point at COP26 was the importance of designing cities with sustainability in mind. Why? Because by 2050, 68% of the global population are going to live in them – that’s according to estimates by the UN (source). On Cities Day, the focus was about building eco-friendly urban centres that have fewer emissions.
For the waste management industry, working with businesses and other organisations to rationalise waste production, reuse, and recycle waste where possible could play a key role in this effort. Put simply, we need our urban centres to be green and businesses make up our urban centres. Are you doing enough to make your city sustainable?
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Food Waste Forgotten?
Often, the biggest takeaways are the issues that get left out – left undealt with, unsaid. At COP26, this issue was food waste – a phenomenon with a significant environmental impact. Waste occurs at every stage of the global food supply chain, from crops lost during farming due to pests, to plate scrapings from staff canteens!
Data from the Carbon Trust revealed 1.6 tonnes of CO2 are emitted for every tonne of food thrown away (source). FareShare, a food charity, expressed disappointment at COP26’s disregard for the issue. Not including food waste in the talks represents a significant missed opportunity to take action.
FareShare went on to say that if food waste were a country, it would be the third largest emitter of carbon in the world (source). That’s right, it’s responsible for 37% of total greenhouse gas emissions (source). Clearly, if 1.5° is truly to stay alive, food waste needs to be high on the global agenda.
What can the waste management industry do to help? Simply put, it’s about providing individuals, businesses, and local authorities with sustainable ways to manage their food waste in accordance with the food waste hierarchy.
This states that the most desirable option is to limit food waste in the first place. If this is not possible, the next best thing is to use edible food surplus to feed the hungry. From there, it’s animal food, and from there it needs to be sustainably recycled – not just thrown in landfill. In an anaerobic digestion plant, food can be broken down in the absence of oxygen, and the resulting methane used to generate green electricity.
Not only will this process give food waste a new sustainable function – making it not waste after all! – but it can help limit our reliance on fossil fuels.
Read next: Benefits of Food Waste Recycling >
Achieve Greater Sustainability with Great Western Recycling
COP26 may have not been the turning point we all hoped it would be, but there were signs of hope. Make sure your business is part of the global solution by working with Great Western Recycling. We’re committed to helping organisations large and small approach their waste management differently, with landfill completely out of the equation! From washroom and sanitary services to dry mixed recycling and even hazardous waste removal, our range of services are designed to make your business greener. We all have a part to play!
Get in touch today and talk to a member of our team!
See more: What is the Waste Management Hierarchy?
See more: Duty of Care, Waste Transfer Notes, and Waste Definitions