The circular economy is a “cradle-to-cradle” system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. The circular economy tackles climate change and other global challenges, like biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution, by decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources. 

0.6% (3.5 kt CO2) of our total greenhouse gas emissions in 2021 came from waste disposal. All of this waste is generated by how we live and work.  We therefore need to reduce waste sent to landfill and reduce consumption of natural resources. 

When we think about the knock-on effects from not reducing our waste, these effects are called Scope 3 emissions, whilst not accurately measured by us, they are definitely a large proportion of our carbon footprint.   

Our actions 

• Minimising the production of waste, especially food waste which makes up about 10% of London's consumption-based emissions.

• Promoting reuse of products, like refilling washing up liquid bottles, instead of throwing them away 

• Recycling everything which can be recycled, including paper, plastics and metals 

• Increasing the operational efficiency of waste collection rounds  

• Using products (including food) which are lower carbon in their manufacturing. This includes using local food and reducing consumption of foods responsible for significant emissions, such as red meat and dairy.   

Progress so far

• Our Parks team’s circular green waste practises have saved approximately 44.5 tco2e of emissions. 

• The Council created a Circular Economy Matchmaker board to educate businesses and residents in the borough about the circular economy. This would help to create a culture of circularity as standard practise.  

• The Council implemented fortnightly collections of general waste encouraging proper recycling behaviour amongst our residents 

• A drastic decrease in recorded contamination since the new three stage contamination policy was introduced. Our total contamination rate fell from 24% in November 2022 to 13.07% in May 2023.  

• The amount of municipal waste collected has fallen by 12kg per household, which is substantial given that we offer collection services to over 120,000 households.     

• The Royal Greenwich Good Food in Greenwich network has earned silver accreditation in the Sustainable Food Places scheme. This group of organisations works together to reduce food waste, support local food growing, promote low-carbon diets, and encourage healthy eating. Greenwich is now among the top 5 London boroughs in this initiative. 

• The Circular Economy workshops and Library of Things kiosk avoided 37.4 tco2e in consumer emissions, saving residents a total of £138,000 in new item purchases.  
   

Read the full Action Plan for Circular Economy for more details of the specific actions we’re taking.