Future waste scenarios

In summer 2010, innovative German futures company Z_punkt were appointed by Defra to develop scenarios of UK waste. Using a mix of qualitative and quantitative techniques, the scenarios sought to explore the possible scale of waste - from commercial, industrial and household sources, and across the major waste streams - over the next ten to twenty years. The work was commissioned to provide Defra with important insight as it reviewed waste policy, a process which culminated in Waste Review 2011.

Though expert in the futures techniques needed to develop the scenarios, Z_punkt approached Brook Lyndhurst to provide additional support. Brook Lyndhurst's expertise in the UK waste system , as well its previous work on waste scenarios meant that we were ideally positioned to:

• provide pointers to important and useful sources of data
• provide background intelligence on historic and current waste management policy and practice
• provide guidance on stakeholders' experience and perspectives

Our work comprised:

• helping Z_punkt to engage with key waste stakeholders
• helping to facilitate a series of workshops that were run as part of developing the scenario
• commenting on emerging and developing scenario models
• commenting on and contributing to conclusions and recommendations
• engaging in discussion on the manner in which different policy instruments could influence waste arisings and waste prevention
• developing a 'systems map' of the UK waste system to identify key leverage points for policy

Our contribution proved invaluable to Z_punkt, helping to ensure that the results of their work were inclusive, relevant and accessible.