The Circular Economy is something Transition Falmouth (TF) has long been interested in promoting. We endeavour to keep up to speed with developments in a sector which we feel is profoundly important for keeping valuable resources in circulation for as long as is humanly possible, with positive implications for tackling climate change and for the regeneration of Nature.

We have recently completed an update of our TF local circular economy Guide “Too Good to Waste” but first, here is some national news:-

National News:

We are greatly encouraged to read that the Environment APPG (All-Party Parliamentary Group) has now produced a six-step plan for the Government to consider:

• “Kick-starting the Circular Economy”.  You can read the Plan here

The UK Government is due to publish a new Circular Economy Strategy in autumn 2025, outlining plans to reduce waste and recirculate materials across high-impact sectors.

Whilst the Government’s Circular Economy Taskforce has prioritised areas such as textiles, transport and construction, the APPG says other sectors like electronics, energy infrastructure and packaging must also be included. (The proposed Deposit Return Scheme is an excellent example of circularity in the packaging sector due to be launched in 2027)

The APPG proposals have attracted broad support across the political spectrum, and also from Industry and environmental organisations such as SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK (contract with Cornwall Council), Zero Waste Scotland, and the Green Alliance amongst others.

The APPG is also recommending green skills to be prioritised. They call for training in repair, remanufacturing, and recycling, which should be part of any plan to develop a workforce suited to the future economy and delivering on net zero.

Thanks to edie – https://www.edie.net – for providing most of the above information

Local News:

The updated TF Guide “Too Good to Waste” is now available here and focuses on Falmouth, Penryn, and Truro and villages within their catchment areas.

The TF “Hard-to-Recycle” section has also been refreshed to include new entries relating to organisations in and around Falmouth, who are offering recycling services for materials which cannot yet be recycled from the kerbside.

New entries include candles, cork wine stoppers, medicine and vitamin blister packets, and pet food packaging… with one exception: plastic toothpaste tubes are also now accepted at the kerbside for recycling in addition to other collection points for oral care products

The Guide complements and includes the full range of services provided by Cornwall Council through its contractors (Biffa and Suez) – just click on the Recycling Services link

Above all, our Guide is a celebration of the contribution which many organisations (private, public, and third sector) are now making to the key task of keeping valuable resources in circulation, and helping Nature regenerate in these challenging times.

We plan to follow this up by focusing on examples taken from the Guide, to throw the spotlight on good innovative practice – some of which will have been recognised with a Cornwall Sustainability Award since the inception of the event back in 2017, and which are still going strong!

Suggestions for new additions and/or corrections always welcome – please use this form for that purpose

(We have also updated the Hard-to-Recycle section for the Truro area which can be viewed here: https://www.transitiontruro.org.uk/wp/projects/hard-to-recycle-materials-truro-area/ )

Finally, for any reader who wishes to delve deeper into local waste policy a visit to the updated Cornwall Council Strategy is highly recommended – see Resources and waste strategy – Cornwall Council – and also see their PDF document linked from that page

The Future is Circular!