Download our Report: Is the UK reaching a recycling 'tipping point'?

We are living in a time of extraordinary change. Towns, cities and entire populations are rapidly transforming, and the growth in digital technology is revolutionising the way we shop and live. At the same time, our environment has never been more threatened. We face an urgent need to manage our resources more effectively.

This report examines the acute challenge facing the UK’s recycling goals and its preparedness to respond to this broader context of change. It reveals that despite some rapid early progress on UK recycling, a confluence of factors will see it not only lag behind the rest of Europe but potentially face a ‘tipping point’ with far-reaching consequences, even in people’s own homes.

The Tipping Point report identifies a set of simple recommendations to ensure that the UK’s recycling approach and infrastructure is fit for the future. These proposed actions are designed to address changing consumer habits, as well as introduce a policy framework that recognises the need for a coherent and integrated approach. By adopting these measures, the UK can once again make rapid progress in helping to answer one of the most pressing challenges we collectively face.

Policymakers, businesses and the public face a choice. The UK can either carry on with an untenable approach or decide it’s time to act.