Business

Tech solutions to the food waste problem
Retailers
Tech solutions to the food waste problem

Zero hunger by 2030 is the focus of this year’s UN World Food Day (16 October), organised every year by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).


The FAO estimated in its latest ‘State of Food Security’ report that over 820 million people across the world were living with chronic undernourishment, while in the UK, 4.7 million people live in severely food insecure homes, where food intake is reduced and children regularly experience hunger.

Record fines handed out for waste crime, says EA report
Waste Crime
Record fines handed out for waste crime, says EA report

A new report from the Environment Agency shows that 93 per cent of the businesses it regulated in 2017/18 showed good compliance with their environmental permits, while non-compliant businesses faced record fines.

The new 'eco-labelling' concept from SUEZ
Waste Management
'Traffic light' labelling could improve packaging recycling, says SUEZ

A new ‘traffic light’ system for on-pack labelling could be the solution to reduce recycling confusion among consumers, according to waste management company SUEZ.

Image: Flickr/Alan Shanton/Creative Commons
Extended sentence shows waste crime gets jail time
By
Kate Nicholson
| 10 October 2018 |
A jailed fly-tipper has his sentence extended after a further five allegations of waste crime came to light.
Walkers to recycle crisp packets after public outcry
Walkers to recycle crisp packets after public outcry
By
Kate Dickinson
| 9 October 2018 |
Following the viral campaign that saw members of the public posting their empty crisp packets back to Walkers, the company has announced plans to launch a recycling scheme for the much-littered packaging. 
Tesco scrapping ‘best before’ labels to reduce food waste
Tesco scrapping ‘best before’ labels to reduce food waste
By
Kate Dickinson
| 9 October 2018 |
Tesco will be scrapping ‘best before’ dates from more than 100 lines of fruit and veg in a attempt to help customers reduce their food waste.
Fashion bosses to be questioned over industry sustainability
Fashion bosses to be questioned over industry sustainability
By
Rob Cole
| 9 October 2018 |
As part of an EAC inquiry, fashion bosses will be asked to reveal the steps they are taking to improve the sustainability of their operations and reduce the environmental impact of the clothes that they sell.
NLWA to fund energy recovery facility with public borrowing
NLWA to fund energy recovery facility with public borrowing
By
Rob Cole
| 8 October 2018 |
The North London Waste Authority has announced that funding for the construction of its new energy recovery facility will come from direct public borrowing, in a move to provide clarity to companies bidding for the construction of the new plant.
Scottish Resources Awards winners announced
Scottish Resources Awards 2018 winners announced
By
Rob Cole
| 8 October 2018 |
A young anti-waste campaigner focusing on the collection of compostable packaging was among the winners at this year’s Scottish Resources Awards.
Scottish brewery turns unwanted bread into craft beer
Scottish brewery turns unwanted bread into craft beer
By
Rob Cole
| 5 October 2018 |
A Scottish brewery is putting circular economy principles into practice with a new craft ale made out of loaves of unsold bread.
NHS waste backlog sees human body parts pile up
NHS waste backlog sees human body parts pile up
By
Kate Dickinson
| 5 October 2018 |
A waste disposal company is under investigation after it was found to have built up a backlog of hundreds of tonnes of medical waste, including human body parts.
UK environment agencies focus on waste crime across borders
UK environment agencies focus on waste crime across borders
By
Kate Dickinson
| 4 October 2018 |
A new environmental campaign, ‘Drive out waste crime’, has been launched by SEPA to tackle the illegal transport and disposal of waste in the UK.
New CIWM business plan aims to return organisation to financial health
New CIWM business plan aims to return organisation to financial health
By
Rob Cole
| 4 October 2018 |
A new business plan from CIWM aims to return the professional waste management body to a financial surplus and refocus its offering to its membership.
Gove pledges £15m to reduce UK food waste
Gove pledges £15m to reduce UK food waste
By
Kate Dickinson
| 3 October 2018 |
The Environment Secretary has announced a new scheme with businesses and charities to increase the amount of edible surplus food being redistributed to those in need.
EU beverage carton recycling rate rises for 12th consecutive year
EU beverage carton recycling rate rises for 12th consecutive year
By
ACE UK
| 2 October 2018 |
The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) UK welcomes the continually improving rates for carton recycling.
Bryson Recycling celebrates 25 years cleaning up Northern Ireland’s waste
Bryson Recycling celebrates 25 years cleaning up Northern Ireland’s waste
By
Rob Cole
| 2 October 2018 |
Northern Irish social enterprise Bryson Recycling celebrated its 25th anniversary last week and has pledged to stay at the forefront of delivering innovative recycling services to Northern Ireland.
Innovative biodegradable materials could replace microplastics in cosmetics
Innovative biodegradable materials could replace microplastics in cosmetics
By
Kate Dickinson
| 2 October 2018 |
Italian bioplastics company Novamont has developed a new range of biodegradable materials designed for use in cosmetics.
Waste companies fined for worker injuries as HSE inspection campaign begins
Waste companies fined for worker injuries as HSE inspection campaign begins
By
Rob Cole
| 1 October 2018 |
Waste management companies from Derbyshire and Bedfordshire have been fined after workers were injured on their premises as the HSE’s inspection into waste and recycling companies begins.
New model needed to set ‘robust and realistic’ WEEE targets, says white paper
New model needed to set ‘robust and realistic’ WEEE targets, says white paper
By
Rob Cole
| 1 October 2018 |
Socio-economic factors and changes in product design should be considered when setting new WEEE collection targets, according to a new white paper commissioned by REPIC.
Tesco tackling plastic bottle waste with reverse vending machine
Tesco tackling plastic bottle waste with reverse vending machine
By
Kate Dickinson
| 27 September 2018 |
Tesco has launched a trial return scheme for plastic bottles as part of a plan to implement a more environmentally-friendly approach to packaging.
Mayor urged to clean up fly-tipping capital as ‘crisis point’ is reached
Mayor urged to clean up fly-tipping in capital as ‘crisis point’ is reached
By
Kate Nicholson
| 27 September 2018 |
A London Assembly Member has called on Sadiq Khan to take action on waste, claiming that fly-tipping in the capital has ‘reached crisis point’.
Four-weekly residual waste collections begin in Conwy
Four-weekly residual waste collections begin in Conwy
By
Kate Dickinson
| 26 September 2018 |
Conwy County Borough Council has finally introduced a monthly collection of residual waste bins after facing repeated delays and opposition from councillors.
Consumers want greater transparency around UK waste and recycling, report finds
Consumers want greater transparency around UK waste and recycling, report finds
By
Kate Nicholson
| 25 September 2018 |
A new study from Viridor reports that public concern over plastic waste is at an all time high, with four out of five of consumers calling for greater clarity about where their household waste ends up.