Labour says it would aim for zero-waste economy by 2050

In a zero-waste economy the amount going to landfill would be drastically reduced and valuable raw materials would be reused. Photograph: Andrew Fox/Getty Images

A Labour government would aim for a zero-waste economy by 2050, the shadow environment secretary has said.

Steve Reed said the measure would save billions of pounds and also protect the environment from mining and other negative actions. He was speaking at the Restitch conference in Coventry, held by the thinktank Create Streets.