Public bodies in Wales need to do more to reduce and reuse their waste, shifting their current focus on recycling and creating a more circular and healthier economy, according to a new report by Public Health Wales. 

While Wales is a global leader in recycling rates of municipal waste (64 per cent), second only to Germany (66 per cent), the total amount of municipal waste (kilogram per capita) created in Wales is currently higher than in England and Scotland. 

The report – ‘Circular Economies and Sustainable Health and Well-being: The public health impact of public bodies refocusing on waste reduction and reuse in Wales’, details how implementing policies to reduce and re-use waste, alongside recycling schemes will have possible significant positive impacts on health and well-being for the whole population of Wales. These include contributing to tackling the climate emergency and thereby reducing air pollution, reducing risk of extreme weather events, increased sustainable production of food and improved mental health and well-being.