Thank you to all who joined us on the 26^th March for our webinar exploring the rollout of Simpler Recycling reforms and the growing role of food waste collections across England.

With 86 of you fine people registered to attend, the session brought together local authority professionals to discuss progress, challenges, and practical steps towards compliance.

The session was led by industry expert Victoria Crawford, who provided a clear overview of policy changes, supported by real-time audience polling and discussion.

We’ve summarised the key takeaways here for those who couldn’t join us this time around – keep an eye on our webinar page for upcoming dates.

2026: A Landmark Year for Waste Reform

The webinar highlighted 2026 as a major turning point for waste and recycling services in England. From 31 March 2026, all local authorities are required to collect a consistent set of materials from households.

These include:

• Food waste
• Paper and card
• Glass, metals and plastics (including cartons)
• Residual waste
• Garden waste (optional, with potential charges)

This move aims to remove confusion for residents and create a standard, national system. It also supports wider environmental goals, including the transition to a circular economy by 2050.

Current Readiness Across Local Authorities

Polling during the webinar gave useful insight into where councils currently stand:

• 25% of respondents already provide food waste collections
• 11% plan to roll out collections by April 2026
• 11% expect delivery later in 2026
• 7% reported delays due to vehicle supply issues
• Over half (54%) abstained, suggesting uncertainty or early-stage planning

This shows mixed readiness across the sector. While some authorities are well advanced, many are still navigating planning, procurement, or funding challenges.

Delays and Delivery Challenges

A second poll explored whether rollout delays had occurred and why.

• 14% cited vehicle procurement bottlenecks
• 4% reported funding challenges

Fleet availability clearly remains one of the biggest barriers. Long lead times for specialist vehicles continue to slow implementation for some councils.

Key Operational Challenges

We explored several practical issues affecting rollout:

1. Infrastructure and Housing Constraints

High-density housing remains a major concern. Flats and urban areas present challenges around storage, access, and collection logistics, and space constraints can lead to bins obstructing pavements or creating visual issues.

2. Vehicle and Resource Shortages

Many authorities face delays linked to vehicle manufacturing and supply chains. Existing long-term contracts also limit flexibility, making rapid service changes difficult.

3. Public Perception and Misinformation

Media coverage appears to have caused confusion among residents with some reports suggesting large fines for non-compliance, which is not accurate. This highlights the need for clear communication strategies.

4. Service Design Choices

There is still debate around collection methods. Authorities must decide between kerbside sort and co-mingled systems - each option brings its own cost, efficiency, and quality implications.

The Role of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

We also explored how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) supports the wider system. It’s designed to improve packaging design, increase recyclability, provide funding to local authorities and reduce waste at source.

However, there are ongoing concerns:

• Complexity of reporting requirements
• Risk of fraud and system misuse
• Uncertainty around full cost recovery
• Delays to implementation

There is also concern that EPR may increase costs for consumers, as producers pass on their expenses.

Deposit Return Scheme (DRS): Future Impact

Looking ahead, the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is due to launch in October 2027.

This will capture high-quality materials such as PET, aluminium, and steel, changing the composition of kerbside collections and reducing the value of materials collected by local authorities.

While DRS will likely improve recycling rates, it may also affect revenue streams for councils, and authorities will need to adapt their services to reflect these changes.

Strategic Importance of Food Waste Collections

Food waste collections are a central part of the reforms. They play a key role in reducing landfill use and improving environmental outcomes. However, rollout is complex.

Authorities must consider:

• Route optimisation
• Container distribution
• Public engagement
• Treatment capacity

This is where data and planning tools become essential. Solutions such as RouteSmart and waste composition analysis can help councils design efficient services and reduce risk.

Insights from Attendee Discussion

Feedback from participants pointed to some common themes. Over in the chat section, concerns about timelines and readiness, questions around funding and long-term costs, interest in best practice for high-density areas and demand for clearer national guidance were prevalent.

Many attendees appreciated practical examples and reassurance as they move towards implementation.

What This Means for Local Authorities

The webinar made it clear that while policy direction is set, many expect delivery to remain complex. There is no single approach that will work for all authorities.

Each authority will need to tailor its strategy based on local conditions, focussing on:

• Finalising service design
• Securing vehicles and containers
• Communicating clearly with residents
• Using data to inform decisions

Final Thoughts

Simpler Recycling represents one of the biggest changes to waste services in recent years. While the benefits are clear, including improved recycling rates and reduced confusion, the path to implementation is not without challenges.

Stuart Henshaw, Chartered Institution of Wastes Management Councillor for the North East and our very own head of Business Development, co-led the webinar and adds his comments:

“Our March 2026 webinar was well-attended and well-received. I was pleased too, with the interaction from attendees sharing their own successes and challenges.

The government aims to reduce the ‘confusion for the public’ but this is the most complex and challenging waste legislation to be delivered for 20 years.

With its many moving parts, Simpler Recycling challenges local authorities to maintain current services while simultaneously preparing for a series of future service scenarios, changing material streams, collection methods, and changes in income levels.

This was our 7th annual webinar focused on supporting local authority officers through this process. Same time, same place, next year!”

Integrated Skills will continue to support local authorities through this transition, providing expertise, technology, and insight to help turn policy into practical outcomes.

See the webinar:

Sign up for future webinars:

The post Webinar Round-Up: Government’s Simpler Recycling Strategy, March 2026 Update appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Why it's important, how it can help - everything you need to know...

Waste Composition Analysis (WCA) has climbed the ranks from a useful, insightful tool to what is now a core element of modern waste strategy.

Across the UK and beyond, organisations are using WCA to better understand what is really in their waste streams, and utilising this knowledge to support smarter decision-making, create clearer policies, and provide more efficient services.

Why Waste Composition Analysis Matters More Than Ever

The waste sector is rapidly evolving, with huge changes coming into play in recent years. New legislation, changing public behaviour, and rising operational costs have made waste management more complex

In this free webinar, we will discuss:

• The regulatory background
• Ensuring a Robust & Representative Sample
• How to ensure Safe & Accurate Fieldwork
• Detailed Analysis and Benchmarking

Join Stuart Henshaw & Matt Coe from Integrated Skills, and Paul Frith from Frith Resources

Stuart Henshaw leads the Webinar Programme at Integrated Skills (ISL), offering insights on improving waste service performance and quality. He heads business development with a special interest in the company's new next-gen software, SmartSuite, and wearing another hat - he leads ISL's Waste Composition Analysis work. Stuart is a CIWM Centre Councillor for the North East.

Paul Frith - Frith Resources

Expert in Council environmental services to enhance performance, make efficiencies, reduce carbon, consult with the public, procure services, waste comp. analysis, strategies & business cases - worked with >130 Councils. Paul has issued technical papers and written technical waste management publications for Government and other public sector bodies both nationally and internationally.

Matt Coe - Integrated Skills

Integrated Skills' WCA Field Manager and leads our work in the field. Matt has over 15 years’ experience in waste composition analysis and has led teams over many years at both Integrated Skills and previously at MEL, across a wide range of projects. He has worked in HWRC, residual, DMR, food and garden waste analysis, energy from waste - feedstock analysis. Matt's previous experience includes WRAP-commissioned food waste analysis projects, and QA work for DEFRA on Waste Composition Analysis projects.

Sign up below!

The post Webinar: Waste Composition Analysis – a Strategic Tool to Navigate Simpler Recycling appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Waste Composition Analysis (WCA) has climbed the ranks from a useful, insightful tool to what is now a core element of modern waste strategy.

Across the UK and beyond, organisations are using WCA to better understand what is really in their waste streams, and utilising this knowledge to support smarter decision-making, create clearer policies, and provide more efficient services.

Why Waste Composition Analysis Matters More Than Ever

The waste sector is rapidly evolving, with huge changes coming into play in recent years. New legislation, changing public behaviour, and rising operational costs have made waste management more complex.

Key drivers include:

• Net zero targets and carbon reduction goals
• Simpler Recycling reforms for England
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes
• Increased scrutiny on contamination and recycling quality
• Budget pressures on local authorities

WCA provides the evidence needed to respond to these challenges, providing a clear picture of material types, contamination levels, and missed recycling opportunities.

Without this data, decisions are based on assumptions. With it, local authorities can act with confidence.

From Data Collection to Strategic Insight

Traditionally, WCA is used as a data-collection exercise, with waste samples sorted and reports produced. While useful in some ways, this approach often ended at data collection and rarely reached beyond.

In 2026, expectations are higher - local authorities need insight, not just information. Because of this, WCA has been pushed to go further by:

• Linking composition data with operational data
• Identifying trends over time
• Supporting service redesign
• Informing communications and behaviour change campaigns
• Quantifying financial and environmental impacts

This shift has turned WCA into a strategic tool that now plays a key role in shaping long-term waste strategies.

The Role of Technology and Data

Technology has improved how WCA is planned and how outputs are delivered. Our team matches current LLPG address details (geo-location of collection days and addresses ) with the socio-economic profiles within the Output Area Classifications provided by ONS.

This creates a socio-economic profile for the authority, and sample streets are selected to reflect this profile. Where Integrated Skills has already provided optimised routes, service days and addresses are matched to provide sampling areas which fit within project deadlines.

Whilst AI-assisted digital recognition of waste materials is improving rapidly, there is no robust alternative to hands-on sorting by a mobile team. Once the analysis has been completed and the results have been tabulated, GIS technology come back into play once more; presenting clear, visual maps to highlight vital aspects of the analysis. For example, we can confirm the areas most likely to present unopened or partially-opened food waste in a particular area.

All the above makes it easier for decision-makers to understand and act on the results of their analysis.

A Growing Need for Evidence-Based Decisions

Funding pressures mean that every decision must be justified. WCA provides the evidence needed to support investment and policy changes.

Common uses include:

• Designing food waste collections
• Improving recycling participation
• Reducing contamination
• Planning depot and fleet changes
• Supporting procurement and contract management

By using WCA data, local authorities can evidence clear outcomes - important for both internal stakeholders and external regulators.

Supporting National Policy and Local Goals

Waste Composition Analysis plays a key role in helping organisations meet national requirements. For example, under Simpler Recycling reforms, local authorities need to standardise collections and improve recycling performance - WCA helps identify gaps and track progress.

Similarly, EPR schemes require accurate data on packaging waste. WCA provides the detail needed to support reporting and funding claims.

At a local level, WCA supports:

• Climate action plans
• Waste reduction targets
• Community engagement strategies

By aligning local actions with national policy, organisations can deliver better results.

Behaviour Change and Public Engagement

Understanding waste composition also helps improve communication with residents. It can reveal the materials frequently placed in the wrong bin and identify areas with low participation. This allows local authorities to create targeted campaigns that address real issues.

For example, if food waste is still being found in residual bins, campaigns can focus on awareness and convenience. If contamination is high, messaging can be clearer and more specific.

Financial and Environmental Benefits

WCA supports both cost savings and environmental gains. Financial benefits include reduced disposal costs, improved recycling revenue, more efficient service design and better contract performance. Environmental benefits include lowering carbon emissions, increased recycling rates, reduced landfill use and improved resource recovery.

By linking these outcomes to WCA data, local authorities can measure progress and demonstrate value.

Integrated Skills and the Evolution of WCA

Integrated Skills has been at the forefront of WCA for many years. Our approach has always focused on combining technical expertise with practical insight.

In recent years, this approach has evolved even further, with WCA now fully integrating with wider operational and strategic services, including:

• Route optimisation
• Service modelling
• GIS analysis
• Performance reporting

By connecting with these areas, WCA becomes part of a bigger picture and supports end-to-end service improvement, rather than acting as a standalone activity.

A Strategic Partnership with Frith Resource Management

A key development in 2026 is a new partnership between Integrated Skills and Frith Resource Management. This collaboration marks a significant step forward, with Frith bringing deep expertise in comparative analysis and field operations and Integrated Skills adding strength in data analysis, modelling, and strategic planning.

The partnership allows WCA to move beyond data collection into true strategic value. Key benefits include:

• End-to-end delivery: From fieldwork to final recommendations, the full process is covered. Clients receive a seamless service with consistent quality.
• Higher data accuracy: We apply robust sampling methods, improving confidence in the results.
• Deeper insights: We apply our advanced analysis to turn data into actionable insight.
• Strategic alignment: WCA findings are linked directly to service design and policy decisions.
• Scalable solutions: This combined capability supports projects of all sizes, from small studies to national programmes.

Our partnership with Frith reflects a wider trend in the industry. Clients no longer want separate services, they want joined-up solutions that deliver real outcomes.

Looking Ahead: The Future of WCA

We believe that the role of WCA will continue to grow. In the coming years, we are likely to see greater integration with digital platforms, more frequent and continuous analysis, increased use of predictive modelling and stronger links to carbon reporting.

WCA will also become more proactive - instead of looking at past performance, it will help predict future trends and support early intervention. This will be especially important as waste systems become more complex.

Conclusion

In 2026, Waste Composition Analysis has become a strategic tool that supports better decisions, stronger performance, and clearer outcomes.

Our partnership with Frith Resource Management supports this shift. By combining field expertise with advanced analysis, WCA can now deliver greater value than ever before.

For organisations facing growing pressure to improve waste services, an Integrated Skills WCA provides the insight needed to move forward with confidence.

The post Waste Composition Analysis for 2026 appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Waste Composition Analysis (WCA) has long been a vital tool for local authorities. It provides clear evidence about what is contained within household and commercial waste streams. This insight supports better decisions, improved recycling rates and more efficient services.

Integrated Skills has delivered WCA projects for many years. Now, through a new partnership with Frith Resource Management, we are strengthening our offer even further. The result is a more strategic, policy-led and future-focused approach that helps councils move from data collection to confident long-term planning.

A Strong Foundation in Waste Strategy

Integrated Skills became internationally recognised for its waste strategy expertise before expanding into Waste Composition Analysis in 2017.

Early projects took the team to Guernsey, Uzbekistan and the West Bank. These commissions built experience in different operating environments, policy settings and collection systems.

Since then, Integrated Skills has expanded its WCA services across the UK. We now deliver repeat commissions for a wide range of local authorities and major waste operators, reflecting our clients’ trust in both the technical quality and practical value we offer.

Why Waste Composition Analysis Matters to Local Authorities

Local authorities operate in a complex and changing landscape. They face financial pressures, new policy requirements and increasing public scrutiny. Waste Composition Analysis provides evidence that supports:

1. Service redesign

WCA shows what materials are present in residual waste and recycling streams. This helps councils to identify missed recyclable materials, target contamination issues, review collection frequencies and plan new services such as food waste collections.

Without composition data, service changes rely on assumptions. With WCA, decisions are evidence-based.

2. Policy compliance

New national policies are reshaping the financial and operational landscape for councils:

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
• Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)
• UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)

Composition data allows authorities to forecast financial impacts, understand material flows, model future tonnages and prepare for reporting requirements.

3. Carbon reduction

Waste is closely linked to climate commitments. Knowing the composition of residual waste helps councils estimate carbon impacts and identify opportunities to divert high-carbon materials. Reducing food waste in residual bins, for example, can significantly lower emissions. Reliable data is essential to set realistic carbon reduction targets.

4. Budget planning

Waste services represent a large share of local authority budgets. Composition studies help identify:

• Avoidable disposal costs
• Recycling performance gaps
• Potential income streams

In short, WCA protects public money by supporting smarter resource planning.

Innovation in Methodology

Integrated Skills has continued to refine and strengthen its approach to Waste Composition Analysis over the years. A key area of strengthened methodology is our improvement in sampling design, using the Output Area Classification system developed by the Office for National Statistics.

This ensures that samples reflect the demographic and socio-economic diversity of an authority area, improving statistical confidence and making findings more defensible.

We also translate survey findings into GIS-based mapping outputs. Rather than presenting tables alone, results are visualised across the whole authority area.

This allows councils to:

• Identify geographic patterns
• Spot performance variations
• Target communications campaigns
• Align operational changes with specific neighbourhoods

We have also developed a new methodology for Household Waste Recycling Centre composition analysis. HWRCs are often overlooked in traditional WCA studies. Their inclusion provides a strategic understanding of:

• Material streams at site level
• Recovery potential
• Operational performance
• Links between kerbside and site behaviour

This broader view helps authorities manage the full waste system, not just kerbside collections.

Elevating WCA Through Strategic Partnership

While high-quality data is essential, this alone is not enough. Councils need interpretation, benchmarking and policy context. This is where our partnership with Frith Resource Management adds significant value.

Frith Resource Management is recognised for its expertise in waste policy and carbon assessment. The organisation supports authorities in understanding:

• The carbon impact of collection systems
• Treatment infrastructure implications
• The financial effects of EPR
• The operational implications of DRS
• Exposure to ETS costs

By combining composition data with policy modelling, councils gain a clearer picture of long-term risk and opportunity.

Carbon accounting is becoming central to local authority decision-making, and Frith Resource Management brings detailed understanding of carbon factors across collection and treatment operations.

When combined with Integrated Skills’ composition data, WCA moves beyond tonnage analysis and into climate strategy. With this information, Councils can:

• Model emissions from current systems
• Test alternative collection scenarios
• Compare treatment options
• Support climate action plans with evidence

Frith Resource Management also provides benchmarking expertise, enabling Councils to compare their performance against similar authorities. This helps answer key questions such as:

• Is our recycling rate typical for an authority of our type?
• Are we collecting the right materials?
• Are our capture rates strong or weak?

This context supports informed decisions and strengthens business cases.

From Operational Study to Strategic Planning Tool

The partnership between Integrated Skills and Frith Resource Management transforms Waste Composition Analysis into a strategic planning tool.

Together, we provide:

• Robust, statistically sound sampling
• Detailed material breakdowns
• GIS-based spatial insight
• Carbon modelling
• Policy scenario testing
• Financial impact forecasting
• National benchmarking

This integrated approach supports waste strategy reviews, service transformation programmes, procurement decisions, infrastructure planning and budget setting. Rather than a standalone technical report, WCA becomes part of a broader strategic framework.

Supporting Authorities in Transition

Many local authorities are currently in transition. They are preparing for separate food waste collections, adjusting to packaging reforms and reviewing long-term disposal contracts. In these circumstances, composition data is especially valuable.

Integrated Skills has already supported authorities undergoing significant change. By providing clear evidence on material flows and capture performance, we have helped councils make confident decisions at critical points in their strategy development.

With the added expertise of Frith Resource Management, that support now extends further into policy modelling, carbon forecasting and benchmarking analysis.

A Joined-Up Offer for a Changing Landscape

The waste sector is evolving quickly. Policy reforms, climate targets and financial pressures demand smarter planning.

Integrated Skills brings:

• International and UK experience
• Innovative sampling methodology
• GIS-driven mapping capability
• Strategic HWRC analysis

Frith Resource Management brings:

• Waste policy expertise
• Carbon modelling capability
• EPR, DRS and ETS insight
• Benchmarking intelligence

Together, we offer a solution that connects data with policy and strategy.

Looking ahead

Waste Composition Analysis remains a solid foundation for effective waste management. However, its true value lies in how it informs decisions. Through this partnership, Integrated Skills is moving beyond traditional survey delivery. We’re now positioning WCA as a strategic asset.

For local authorities facing complex challenges, this elevated approach provides clarity and confidence.

The post Integrated Skills Partners with Frith Resource Management to Elevate WCA Offering to a Strategic Level appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Local Authorities & The Anaerobic Digestion Sector: Will They Avoid Making a Stink?

As the Government’s Simpler Recycling deadlines edge closer, we’re turning our thoughts to food waste. The reforms include a requirement for Local Authorities to provide regular food waste collection services, starting with businesses in March 2025. Households across the country can expect a weekly food waste collection from March 2026.

The Anaerobic Digestion sector will no doubt be pleased at the news, but how will this huge uplift in processing power be achieved? And how will Local Authorities guarantee the weekly collections promised by central Government?

Here we’ll be explaining why the reforms are great news for the environment. We’ll also be discussing the barriers to the successful implementation of the great food waste plan- from funding and infrastructure, to the delicate issue of plant locations…

Why is Food Waste Management So Important?

The term “food waste” will likely bring simple table scraps to mind. But the issue runs deeper than you may think. For every wasted slice of bread and discarded vegetable, all the resources used to create that food are wasted too. Think about the energy, fuel and water that will have gone into their production from farm to table.

Once the food has been discarded and those resources have been wasted, the materials then decompose. This releases methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

“When we throw away food, we also throw away the precious resources that went into producing this food. This includes the use of land and natural resources, the social cost to the environment, and our biodiversity. Food waste accounts for one-third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and generates 8% of greenhouse gases annually. With these statistics in place, there is a huge need to reduce this environmental footprint.” Earth.org

Food waste results from discarded, out of date produce from supermarkets, table scraps from homes and restaurants, and bi-products of food preparation such as peelings and trimmings. The Government has committed to reducing food waste by 50% by 2030 (against a 2015 baseline) in line with the UN’s sustainable development goals.

Anaerobic Digestion: The Basics

Anaerobic Digestion is the process through which food waste can be broken down into useful components, without adding greenhouse gases to our atmosphere and without the use of oxygen.

It’s a biological process whereby food waste is “digested” by mico-organisms in airtight, dark containers to produce bio-gas and organic fertiliser.

The process:

• Food waste is collected and poured into bunkers.
• A macerator then removes any packaging and chops the food waste up to speed up the digestion process.
• This mush is then mixed with liquid food waste.
• The mixture is then heated to remove any unwanted bacteria.
• It’s then moved to the digestion tanks, where bacteria break the food down

Effectively, four products are produced from anaerobic digestion:

• Digestate: Organic, nitrogen-rich fertiliser which can be used by farmers in place of chemical fertilisers.
• Biogas: Mostly made up of methane and carbon dioxide, this mixture of natural gases can be burnt to create electricity for the National Grid or upgraded into Biomethane.
• Biomethane (gas): Created by separating out the carbon dioxide and other gases, biomethane can be injected into the gas network for use in homes and industry as it’s chemically identical to natural gas.
• Biomethane (liquid): The biomethane gas can be compressed into liquid form too. This can be used as a fuel for transport.

This process is very cost-effective when compared to landfill or incineration fees. Food waste weighs far more than other forms of waste, making it very expensive to process in traditional ways. If it’s not separated out from other waste, it adds significant weight, causing local councils to pay a premium at landfill and incineration sites.

As a simple, cost-effective and environmentally friendly option, anaerobic digestion is the Government’s preferred process.

What Do Local Authorities Need to Consider?

The required food waste services will create an entirely new waste stream for many Local Authorities. This will mean changes throughout the waste management plan; from household starter kits to public engagement, new vehicles and upgraded depots.

Anaerobic digestion operators are poised and ready to handle the uplift in food waste heading their way, but what do Local Authorities need to consider when working out how they will handle this new waste stream?

Costs:

With little information forthcoming re how this will be funded and what Anaerobic digestion operators will charge, Local Authorities are currently planning in the dark.

Plant locations:

Much of the country is well-covered, but some regions do not have enough plants to handle the expected increases in demand. This may mean additional planning and costs due to the need for storing and bulking food waste in sealed skips for transportation to processing plants.

When it comes to building new plants or converting existing sites for this new purpose, the public may pose an issue. While the digestion chambers are sealed, plants still pose an issue around odour.

This issue is already in the news with a proposal halted for a site in Newhaven due to resident concerns about noise, smell and vermin.

Choosing an operator:

Many factors must be considered when arranging contracts with anaerobic digestion operators.

Location is top of the list- they must have sites in your area that are well-positioned to avoid complaints. They must also be well-designed and maintained.

Health and safety must be a clear priority for operators due to the risks of fires, explosions and pollution caused by the natural gases involved. They must also be able to demonstrate how they avoid contaminants entering the system (such as grit and plastic) which can cause downtime for cleaning.

Great questions to ask include:

• What is their protocol for contaminated tanks? Do they have a contingency plan for any downtime?
• Can they handle the packaging levels expected from your area?
• How often do they reject loads? What level of contamination is accepted?
• Are staff dedicated to working through problems in partnership with you?
• What vehicles are accepted?

How Integrated Skills Can Help

While there are so many unknowns for Local Authorities, we can help arm you with relevant information. Through our network of local authority waste management experts, we can ensure your questions are answered and put you in touch with those in the know.

Through our own effective waste composition analysis services, you can determine how much food is currently in the residual stream and prepare yourself and any future contractors for the amount of food waste expected.

Understanding the expected level of food waste to be collected is vital for your fleet. Effective planning for additional vehicles, vehicles with food pods or outsourced services can be achieved with our route optimisation and route planning software called “RouteSmart”.

Speak to us today for expert support during this challenging time.

The post Will They Avoid Making a Stink? appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Waste Composition Analysis is a service Integrated Skills have been providing since 2010, but recent policy changes mean that requests for our assistance are on the rise. Here we’ll be briefly explaining what WCA is, as well as outlining the multiple reasons for increased uptake by local authorities.

What is Waste Composition Analysis?

WCA is the process of physically separating, weighing, and analysing the waste and recycling collected by local authorities, or being delivered by the public and businesses to Household Waste & Recycling Sites.

Categories include:

• Paper
• Cardboard
• Plastics
• Glass
• Metals
• Textiles
• Absorbent Hygiene Products
• Food Waste
• Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment
• Miscellaneous Combustibles
• Non-Recyclable Combustibles
• Garden Waste/Organics
• Household Hazardous Waste

Each of these categories is further separated into sub-categories to give a detailed view of exactly what is being collected.

What is WCA Used For?

Each authority we work with will have specific objectives in mind, but the most common theme is to find out which waste streams are contaminated, to what extent, and by what materials (e.g. recyclable material in residual collections).

This arms authorities with the data needed to:

• Develop new recycling schemes to suit the needs of the community
• Access the success or failure of any recent public engagement drives
• Tailor educational programmes to better-engage the community
• Strategically plan for all waste services

As part of our summer series of webinars in 2019, ISL presented a masterclass detailing the most effective approach to undertaking a WCA- have a watch if you’d like more information.

What is Boosting Interest in WCA?

Recent policy changes and upcoming deadlines for earlier schemes have driven uptake. Namely:

• The Deposit Return Scheme
• Extended Producer Responsibility
• Emissions Trading Scheme
• Simpler Recycling 2026 and 2027
• The proposals around the kerbside collection of electrical appliances

Let’s look at each in turn:

The Deposit Return Scheme

The Government released their latest press release on this subject in January 2023. They describe it as “a new cash incentive system, placing deposits on drinks bottles and cans, which will boost recycling from 2025”.

In a nutshell, consumers will be incentivised to return used drinks containers to “reverse vending machines” for recycling, and will receive a cash incentive in return. This will apply to England, Wales and Northern Ireland by October 2025.

Materials falling under the scheme are:

• Single-use drinks containers from 50ml to 3 litres
• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, steel cans and aluminium cans will be included for England, Northern Ireland, and Wales
• Glass bottles will be included for Wales only.

Waste Composition Analysis will show authorities the quantities of each container type they are currently receiving via all their waste management channels; giving them a baseline to measure the impact of DRS.

Extended Producer Responsibility

The government last updated their guidance for the EPR scheme in January 2024, with changes to come into effect from 2025. This policy essentially makes manufacturers financially responsible for the post-consumer disposal of their packaging.

WCA is essential for EPR to be effective. Without accurate measurement, manufacturers can’t be charged accurately to cover their products’ contribution to recycling costs. Of course, if all authorities collected refuse and recycling in the same ways, this analysis would be far easier to average out for the country as a whole. As that’s not the case, individual authorities will need their own WCA.

Emissions Trading Scheme

This scheme focuses on carbon dioxide emissions, in line with the UK’s plans for Net Zero. The Government’s policy paper was released in December 2023 and the scheme is a replacement for the UK’s participation in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS).

Essentially, companies and organisations (including local authorities) will need to “buy allowances” from the Government to emit carbon dioxide. These allowances will be reduced in number, year on year, resulting in price increases. The idea is that businesses will strive to move to more eco-friendly operations to avoid the additional costs.

For local authorities, allowances will need to be purchased for all fossil-derived material (mainly textiles and plastics) processed through Energy from Waste Plants (currently landfill and anaerobic digestion are outside of scope).

Compliance with the scheme will require accurate data on the waste being collected by individual authorities- another reason for our recent uptick in WCA enquiries.

Simpler Recycling Proposals

You can read in-depth info on this in our recent blog, but to summarise: the updated rules will include a weekly food collection service (which should be in place across the country by March 2026), as well as unified rules for what can be recycled for all residents, educational establishments and businesses.

With the standardisation of recycling rules across the country aside (as deadlines are still being confirmed), the food waste collection element alone will require huge changes from local authorities. WCA will be vital for estimating the amount of food waste that will need to be collected.

Thoughts from Integrated Skills

Having been providing WCA services for nearly 15 years, we fully understand the wealth of information that can come from professional analysis. Our WCA clients currently include West London Waste Authority, Luton Borough Council, States of Guernsey, South Gloucestershire Council, Wigan Council, and City of London Corporation, amongst others.

With so many changes on the horizon, knowing what is currently being collected and how your collections could be altered to suit your community, your budget, and the new policies coming into play is essential.

We’ll leave you with a word from our Director of Business Development, Stuart Henshaw:

“After a policy drought for some time, the recent deluge of new policy from Government and its three-letter acronyms, DRS, EPR & now ETS, together with Simpler Recycling (2026 and 2027 versions), has got many Local Authorities thinking about Waste Composition Analysis services to help to steer a course through this legislation.

Integrated Skills have been building these policy requirements into our analysis so we can tailor our reports and provide our clients with details of their exposure to this new legislation as well as the more familiar answers provided by waste composition analysis.

Government’s inclusion of Energy from Waste plants into the UK Emissions Trading Scheme will have a major impact on UK local authority waste services. The cost to already cash-strapped authorities will be huge, and the measures that will be required to alleviate these costs will mean a significant change in producer, consumer, and recycling behaviour.”

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WRAP has appointed Integrated Skills to its four-year framework, to provide high quality waste composition services.

Alan Paget, Integrated Skills Managing Director commented, “we are delighted to join the WRAP Framework for Waste Composition Analysis. We are pleased to be recognised for our reliable, risk-free, high quality work in this field that is indicative of WRAP’s and our own values”.

WRAP sought contractors with “significant demonstrable skills, expertise and experience to deliver the requirements of this framework effectively”. WRAP follows key principles of quality assurance in its research and delivery and Integrated Skills were selected as one of four providers who could provide services which match this integrity.

Stuart Henshaw and Sarah Knapp lead Integrated Skills WCA work. Stuart noted; “with over 10 years’ experience of Waste Composition Analysis already, we can bring our long-established GIS, mapping and data management skills to this work too, for example, by using Census data and Output Area Codes (OAC & LOAC data) to select sampling areas that mirror the overall make-up of the authority. By choosing the best possible sampling areas, we can increase the value of our samples, the robustness of our data collection, and ensure that our results can be used with confidence to formulate waste strategy and future service design”.

Sarah Knapp, Integrated Skill’s WCA Expert who has over 20 years’ experience in the field, added that, “In response to Covid-19, we have further strengthened our Health & Safety approach putting in place additional PPE and revising our procedures to keep our teams, and the public safe”.

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In our latest case study we examine recent projects in Waste Composition Analysis and consider how valuable they can be.

We have conducted a number of WCAs over the years with Sarah Knapp as the project leader. In our experience, it has proved a successful approach to evaluating an authority's or an organisation's operation and where improvements can be made. View a recent masterclass Sarah presented here.

Covid-19 has brought a complete halt to all waste composition fieldwork. The main reasons are three fold and obvious: Defra’s advice not to touch any waste for at least 72 hours after collection, the dearth of appropriate PPE and the stay at home policy that makes representative sampling impossible. Time to reflect on recent projects and the versatility of waste composition as a useful tool.

View the Case Study here.

The post The new normal for waste composition analysis – time to reflect appeared first on Integrated Skills.

Integrated Skills have been conducting Waste Composition Analyses for 10 years, offering hands on co-operation with local authorities in the UK and Channel Islands. With our team's wealth of experience in the waste sector and the expertise of our associates we have been involved in a number of successful projects.

As suggested in previous articles, we have 'got our hands dirty' working with teams from the Local Authority examining the content of collected waste from different waste streams in order to establish where and when contamination occurs with an intention to improve services with a variety of different methods, including for example, encouraging the public to better engage with waste and resource management in order to maximise recycling output.

Working with our associate Sarah Knapp, a nationally recognised expert in the field of WCA, allows us to provide exceptional support when coordinating such a project. She has also offered her expertise in a comprehensive webinar, presented in 2019. View the masterclass here.

Read more about our Waste Composition Analysis projects on our new pages, detailing the objectives of a typical WCA and exploring the successes for Local Authority clients across the UK and Channel Islands.

The post Waste Composition Analyses in the UK & Channel Islands appeared first on Integrated Skills.

On Friday 7th June we hosted a webinar with our associate Sarah Knapp looking at effective ways to undertake and manage a Waste Composition Analysis. We have taken part in number of these operations over the years, most recently with Leicestershire County Council & Wigan Council.

View Sarah's Powerpoint presentation here.

See the webinar below:

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