Reuse means using packaging multiple times instead of discarding it after one use. That sounds simple, but making it work requires collection, washing, transport and return systems — all of which cost money. This helps explain why some businesses remain cautious. However, a Zero Waste Europe and Searious Business study⁠ suggests the economics can change when reuse operates efficiently and at scale. Importantly, the study does not compare today’s average reuse system with today’s average...

England’s waste system faces a second problem closely connected to lock-in: capacity. The Government’s statutory 2042 target requires residual waste to fall to 287 kg per person, while the interim target is 437 kg per person by 2030⁠. Defra’s modelling indicates that collection and packaging reforms will contribute towards the reduction, but further policies will be required to close the remaining gap. That matters because incinerators are long-lived assets. If more capacity is built than...

Incinerators are built to operate for decades. That creates an awkward question: what happens when councils are trying to recycle more and produce less waste, but long-term contracts still depend on keeping incinerators supplied? This tension is known as incinerator lock-in. In simple terms, infrastructure and contracts designed around a steady supply of waste can make it harder or more expensive to reduce the amount being burned. In an August 2026 open letter, the United Kingdom Without...