Defra must consider policies and strategies to manage environmental challenges
such as climate change and sustainability. At a basic level the strategies need good quality data
on waste characteristics. The dataset for UK wastes, in particular the new generation of treated
wastes, is not fit for this purpose. This paper outlines the gaps in knowledge needed to underpin
policy development and initial findings from a new project funded under Defra’s Waste and
Resource Management Research Programme. The project team from WRc, Open University and
Cranfield University aims to improve understanding of the characteristics of treated organic and
inorganic wastes, methods of testing and knowledge of treatment process performance. Potential
opportunities from the research are also described. New data will be collated into the
presentation