Sustainability and CSR – what can we expect in 2016?

Now that 2015 has drawn to a close, many of us are preoccupied with wondering what 2016 might hold. Here are some of our thoughts, along with the views of a selection of other sustainability and waste management professionals.

It's likely we'll see increased pressure to reduce the quantity of food being discarded at home, in supermarkets and in the food production sector.

Recyclables

Neil Baldwin, head of sales and business development at Network Waste, says: "Commodity markets slid in 2015, and although I'd expect them to level out, I still think businesses are going to have to delve deeper into 'circular economy' thinking in order to find value.

Circular Economy

"In the meantime, major manufacturers will continue to claim circular economy leadership roles whilst increasing linear, non-sustainable, resource use.

"Concerned professionals and other citizens around the world will be developing and sharing practical solutions, in an effort to counter government inabilities to manage waste."

In household waste, it's likely we'll see other councils trial monthly collections of residual waste, just like they are in Fife, in an effort to cut costs.

From waste to resource

"This vital paradigm shift from 'waste' to 'resource' has been talked about for the best part of two decades, but is seldom done properly. In particular, we need to stop obsessing on supply (eg recycling targets) and focus on the demand side - demand alone will drive up volumes, quality and cost-effectiveness, closing those loops.

Landfill rates

Compost Like Output (CLO), and other similar biosolids from Mechanical and Biological Treatment (MBT) facilities - often used in land reclamation - could also find themselves in landfill this year in some instances.

Gate fees

AD and composting operators, already reported to be struggling to source sufficient feedstock, are likely to continue slugging-it-out with low gate fees in order to compete for organic waste.

With energy costs, in general, being lower in 2015 than they have for many years (partly as a result of the depressed price of oil, coupled with lower costs of coal and gas as a consequence of particularly mild weather) the operating costs of many waste handling processes can reasonably be expected to have fallen, with canny waste producers well positioned to use this in their negotiating strategies.

With the global slump in the price of oil showing no signs of recovery, the costs of waste collection should also reasonably be expected to fall.

Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR

"My personal view at the time the storm broke remains unchanged: immense good will come from it in the form of a renewed focus in 2016 and beyond on hybrid and electric vehicles where emissions are at worst displaced and in many cases environmental performance is significantly enhanced."