Circular Online explores what ‘Manchesterism’ is and how Andy Burnham’s potential policy agenda as PM could impact the resources and waste sector.

Keir Starmer’s resignation means the UK is going to see its seventh Prime Minister in a decade, and it’s no secret that the next occupant of 10 Downing Street is almost certainly going to be the new MP for Makerfield, Andy Burnham.

Despite unsuccessfully challenging for the Labour leadership twice previously, Burnham established himself as the king across the M25 during his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester.

The idea of Manchesterism emerged during his time as Mayor and revolves around decentralising power from London and putting it in the hands of local authorities and regional mayors.

In an agenda-setting speech this week, Burnham explained: “While national government has got bigger, particularly since the pandemic, local government is threadbare and without the resources to fulfil even statutory responsibilities.”

“This is not just bad for councils in the areas they serve; it is bad for everywhere.”

At a time when councils are under acute financial pressure, this is likely to be welcome news – depending on the details. It also means that the resource and waste sector could play an unexpectedly large role in the early months of Burnham’s premiership.

The scale of organised waste crime and the long-delayed Circular Economy Growth Plan, as well as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the UK’s Deposit Return Schemes (DRS), have all brought mainstream attention to the sector this year.

How Burnham chooses to address these challenges will have a massive impact on the industry and households across the UK. Fortunately, his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester gives us a unique insight into what his policies related to the sector could be.

In the role, Burnham led the largest waste disposal authority in the country, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), handling 4% of the UK’s municipal waste.

So what does his time in charge tell us?

What can the GMCA’s work tell us?

GMCA handles around 1.03 million tonnes of waste and recycling each year from over a million households in the metropolitan districts of Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, and Trafford.

Greater Manchester achieved a 50.9% recycling rate in 2024/2025 – the national average in England was 44% – and the landfill diversion rate was 99.5% in 2024/2025.

In 2022, the GMCA published a Sustainable Consumption Plan (SCP) setting out how Greater Manchester businesses and residents can reduce waste and create a more circular economy.

Circular economy principles have played a key role in one of Greater Manchester’s biggest success stories in recent years: the Renew Hub in Trafford Park.

Launched in 2021, the Renew Hub is the UK’s largest reuse and repair facility and is run by SUEZ recycling and recovery UK in partnership with the GMCA and nine local councils.

The Renew Hub aims to provide affordable goods to residents, fund grassroots projects to reduce waste and promote sustainability, and offer training in repair and green skills to support employability and inclusion.

Any household items donated at the 20 household waste recycling centres in the area are transported to the Renew Hub for repair and upcycling before being resold to the public.

Between 2024-25, the Renew Hub accounted for almost three-quarters (73%) of all social value generated by GMCA and its supply chain.

In a sign of how much he values the authority’s work, Burnham is set to appoint GMCA CEO Caroline Simpson as his deputy chief of staff and oversee devolution policies from No 10 North.

This is a key appointment that could signal how he approaches the role of Prime Minister. However, questions remain over one of his biggest appointments: who will be the next Chancellor?

Ed Miliband and net zero reindustrialisation

Not many politicians have published a blueprint outlining their policy platform, but in Head North, Andy Burnham, alongside Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram, set out their ten-point plan to fix Britain.

Some policies are expected, such as full devolution and a senate of nations and regions; however, one that stands out is: ‘Net Zero to Reindustrialise the North’.

At a time when the consensus on climate change has broken and the term ‘net zero’ has become a political football, it’s not a guarantee that Burnham will stick with this commitment to net zero.

But there are clear signs that Burnham will not abandon his previous support for a net-zero transition, even if he chooses to frame the policy decisions around reindustrialisation and highlights the economic opportunities instead of the environmental benefits.

While he has pushed back against media speculation, Burnham is widely expected to appoint the current Ed Miliband as Chancellor.

The current Energy Security and Net Zero secretary has long been a champion of renewable energy and is perceived to have pushed green policies around the cabinet table.

For the recycling and waste sector, the government’s legally binding commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 has given investors confidence to back circular economy projects. Local authorities have factored it into their procurement and waste collection strategies.

In his speech earlier this week, Burnham said his plan for government would include strategic state intervention in key industries and promised to favour UK businesses in procurement. This could give a big boost to a variety of sectors, but especially local authorities across the UK.

While he chose not to focus on environmental policies, pointedly not mentioning the term ‘net zero’, the potential for the state to stimulate green growth is clear.

Despite being framed as a cost or a constraint on the economy by its opponents, the UK’s net zero economy generates around £105 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) and supports 1.1m full-time equivalent jobs.

According to the research from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), for every £1 of economic value created directly by net zero firms, a further £1.85 is generated across the wider UK economy through supply chains and household spending. The research also found that net zero is one of the UK’s ‘most productive and geographically distributed industrial sectors’.

For a PM in waiting who wants ‘good growth in every British postcode’, the appeal is clear. This could be a clear sign that the circular economy, recycling, and waste may play a bigger role in Burnham’s premiership than many people expect.

The post What could Andy Burnham as PM mean for the sector? appeared first on Circular Online.

Wales’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) could increase the price of glass-bottled drinks in Wales by 50p, Welsh drink producers claim.

In a letter to the Welsh Government, 12 small and medium-sized Welsh household drinks brands warn the scheme could mean ‘higher prices for Welsh shoppers as well as fewer glass products on Welsh shelves’.

The businesses also warn that Wales’s DRS could make their businesses unviable and cut jobs.

They also cite industry analysis that suggests including glass as an in-scope material from day one of the scheme could add up to 50p to every single glass-bottled drink sold in Wales.

A UK-wide DRS is set to go live across England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland in October 2027, covering single-use PET plastic, steel and aluminium drinks containers between 150ml and 3 litres.

The Welsh Government plans to include glass containers in its scheme, as well as plastic, steel, and aluminium. However, there will be a four-year transition period during which no deposit is charged on glass containers to manage interoperability with the other UK schemes.

The decision to include glass has been met with fierce criticism from the glass producers and the drinks industry. While Welsh environmental and charitable organisations have consistently called for Wales’s DRS to include glass.

The letter from Welsh business leaders, which was organised by the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA), urges the government to ‘proceed with caution’ to avoid unintended consequences for consumers, small businesses and the wider UK scheme.

Signatories include family-run food and drink producer Radnor Hills, the Welsh mountains still water brand Brecon Carreg, and the largest independent brewery in Wales, Brains Brewery in Cardiff.

The letter, addressed to the Welsh Government Cabinet Minister for Sustainability and Rural Resilience, Llŷr Gruffydd MS, calls on him to ‘urgently appoint’ Exchange for Change as the Welsh DRS administrator.

Earlier this year, the Welsh Government rejected Exchange for Change’s application to become its DRS administrator and reopened applications with a new deadline of 2 June 2026.

According to multiple reports, Exchange for Change, the DMO for the DRSs in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, was the only organisation to have submitted an application.

Exchange for Change said it was ‘disappointed’ by the decision, and confirmed it is considering appealing and intended to reapply.

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Circular Online sits down with CIWM President Vicki Hughes to discuss her Think Again campaign, whether the industry has a branding problem, and how the sector can appeal to the next generation of job seekers.

Throughout June, Circular Online is exploring how to make the resources and waste sector more attractive to the next generation of talent.

In a fascinating conversation, we speak to new CIWM President Vicki Hughes about how her Think Again campaign is working to achieve this goal and change the perception that the sector is all about rubbish and bin lorries.

What are the key ways the sector can increase its visibility to job seekers?

The first step is to stop waiting for people to find us and start actively showing up where job seekers are already looking.

Many people have little or no understanding of what our sector actually does or the opportunities it offers. We need to tell more stories about the people who already work in the sector and the variety of careers available. We need to showcase the purpose behind the work, the environmental impact, the innovation and the career progression opportunities.

We also need to reach people where they are. That means moving beyond traditional trade media and conferences and making greater use of social media, short-form video, podcasts, schools, universities, and employer networks.

People cannot choose careers they don’t know exist, so through my campaign I’m asking all employers in the sector to pledge their support, and one of the ways they can do that is to tell the success stories of the people already working for them.

Research released as part of your Presidential Campaign identified that the sector has a branding problem. How should the sector reframe how it presents itself to job seekers?

The research suggested that many people form an opinion about the sector before they’ve learned anything about it. The challenge isn’t necessarily what we do; it’s how people perceive what we do.

For many people, the word ‘waste’ creates an immediate mental picture that doesn’t reflect the reality of our sector today. Yet we are a sector built around sustainability, innovation, resource efficiency, manufacturing, logistics, technology and environmental improvement. We need to talk less about what we collect and more about what we create.

We often lead with the word ‘waste’ when perhaps we should be leading with impact, opportunity and purpose.

We help tackle climate change.

We reduce carbon emissions.

We support the circular economy.

We protect natural resources.

We design infrastructure and services that keep society functioning.

When people understand the bigger picture, their perception changes remarkably quickly. The sector doesn’t need to reinvent itself.

What are some of the biggest mistakes the sector makes when trying to communicate with job seekers?

One of the most interesting findings was that organisations often talk about themselves, while job seekers are thinking about themselves.

Employers tend to lead with information about the organisation, the sector or technical requirements. Job seekers want to know: What will I be doing? Will I enjoy it? Can I progress? Will I make a difference? Can I be myself?

People don’t generally choose careers because of sectors. They choose careers because of purpose, opportunity, personal growth and the chance to have a positive impact. The more we can align our communications with those motivations, the more successful we’ll be.

How can the sector align with what job seekers want?

Today’s workforce is looking for meaningful work, opportunities to learn, strong values and the chance to have a positive impact.

The good news is that our sector already offers these. The challenge is not creating them. The challenge is communicating them.

We need to do a better job of showing career pathways, highlighting role models, celebrating diversity and sharing real stories about the people who work within the sector. The opportunities are already there.

We simply need to make them more visible.

Your research identified that the term ‘waste’ is actively deterring interest in the sector. What alternative terminology could be more effective?

I’m not suggesting we stop using the word waste altogether because it remains an important part of what we do. However, we should balance it with language that better reflects the wider contribution of our sector.

Terms such as circular economy, resource management, sustainability, environmental solutions, net zero, climate action and resource efficiency often generated more positive responses because they immediately connected to outcomes and impact.

However, we also have to be mindful that much of our language within this sector is very ‘sector specific’ and people who have not worked in the sector may not understand it. That’s why the actual real-life stories are going to be so important moving forward.

Ultimately, it is not about replacing one label with another. It’s about helping people understand that this is a sector focused on creating value, solving problems and protecting resources for future generations.

Often, people in the sector say they fell into their roles and ended up loving them. How can resources and waste make itself a sector of choice for job seekers?

Ha ha! I’m one of those people! When I joined the sector more than 20 years ago, I didn’t think I was joining waste and recycling. I saw it as a manufacturing role, as I was heading up a project to manufacture equine bedding from recycled wood.

I see time and time again how many talented people are overlooking this sector simply because they don’t understand what it encompasses. We need to move from being a sector people discover by accident to one they actively consider.

That means engaging much earlier with schools, colleges and universities. It means showcasing careers more effectively. It means highlighting the diversity of opportunities available. And it means giving people a clearer picture of what a modern career in resources, circular economy and sustainability can look like.

My ambition is that future generations choose this sector because they understand the opportunities, not because they happened to stumble across them.

What skills does the sector need to attract in the short, medium and long term?

In the short term, we need operational, engineering and technical skills to support the ongoing development of infrastructure and services.

In the medium term, we need people with expertise in digital technology, data analysis, communications, product design, policy and behavioural change.

In the longer term, I think the most important skill will be adaptability. The sector is evolving rapidly and will continue to do so. We will need innovators, problem-solvers and people who can work across disciplines to help create new approaches to resource management and circularity.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that we only need people with waste and recycling experience. In reality, we need talent from almost every professional background.

How would you encourage someone to join the sector?

The story is simple.

This is a sector that sits at the heart of some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing society today.

If you want a career where you can see the difference you make, where you can contribute to environmental progress, where you can work on some of society’s biggest challenges and where there are opportunities to grow and develop, then this is a sector worth exploring.

It is a sector that combines purpose with innovation. A sector where you can help tackle environmental challenges, contribute to the circular economy, develop new products and services and make a measurable difference.

It is also a sector full of opportunities. That’s exactly why Think Again exists.

I want people to discover the sector because once they do, their perceptions often change very quickly.

The message I would give any job seeker is this: don’t judge the sector by what you think it is. Take a closer look. You may discover opportunities you never knew existed.

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The EU’s new Extended Producer Responsibility scheme requires the automotive sector to ‘design for circularity’ and ensure the free take-back and proper treatment of all end-of-life vehicles.

The EU Council has now formally adopted circularity requirements for vehicle design and the management of end-of-life vehicles.

As part of the new regulations, new vehicles must be designed and produced in a way that supports their re-use, recycling and recovery.

The EU Council said the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme means producers will be made financially and organisationally responsible for the entire lifecycle of their vehicles.

The regulations also introduce circularity requirements across the entire life cycle of vehicles, from design and production to their end-of-life treatment.

After six years following entry into force of the new rules, at least 15% of plastic used to manufacture new vehicles must come from recycling, with the ultimate target of 25% recycled plastic within 10 years of the regulation entering into force.

Furthermore, a minimum of 20% of this recycled plastic must be recovered from end-of-life vehicles.

Based on a feasibility study to be finalised one year after the regulation enters into force, the European Commission must also introduce future targets for other materials, such as recycled steel, aluminium, magnesium, and critical raw materials.

The regulations also ban the export of used vehicles that are no longer roadworthy, applying to passenger cars and light commercial vans.

The EU Council says heavy-duty vehicles, motorcycles, and special-purpose vehicles will be subject to a ‘more limited set of requirements’ to ensure their proper treatment.

The regulation also aims to address the issue of ‘missing vehicles’ – vehicles that are illegally dismantled or exported – by enhancing traceability and control measures.

The new rules mean that once a vehicle meets the criteria of an end-of-life vehicle (waste), it must be treated by an authorised treatment facility and cannot be legally exported or resold as a used vehicle.

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