Business Legislation

Scotland to ban the burning of waste plastic from farms
Scotland to ban the burning of waste plastic from farms

Burning farm plastics will be illegal in Scotland from 2019 after the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) vowed to end exemptions enabling the practice.


Currently, farm plastics (referring to silage wrap, crop covers, fertiliser bags and containers) are able to be incinerated in Scotland under an exemption to the environmental regulations updated in 2013. Following discussion with the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Scotland and Zero Waste Scotland, SEPA has announced today... More

Unprecedented public support for tax on plastics following Treasury consultation
Unprecedented public support for plastics tax after Treasury consultation

HM Treasury has revealed that its call for evidence on how the tax system could be used to reduce plastic waste has received overwhelming public support from individuals, businesses and campaign groups alike.

Public input wanted for Scotland’s deposit return scheme

Zero Waste Scotland is running a series of nationwide public engagement events giving details on potential schemes and seeking feedback from Scottish citizens. 

EU pressed to set mandatory recycled plastic content requirement
EU pressed to set mandatory recycled plastic content requirement
By
Kate Dickinson
| 20 July 2018 |
A coalition of 34 European organisations has called on the EU to implement a minimum requirement for recycled plastics in new products. 
Gove fails to guarantee current environmental standards won’t fall after Brexit
Gove fails to guarantee current environmental standards won’t fall after Brexit
By
Rob Cole
| 12 July 2018 |
Environment Secretary Michael Gove has been accused of “papering over the cracks” by MPs in Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee during an evidence session on the proposed Environmental Principles and Governance after EU Exit Bill.
Starbucks announces nationwide five pence coffee cup charge
By
Gethin Roberts
| 10 July 2018 |
The coffee chain will introduce a five pence paper cup charge across all 950 UK stores later this month to encourage the use of reusable cups.
OECD report urges governments to crack down on WEEE free-riding
OECD report urges governments to crack down on WEEE free-riding
By
Rob Cole
| 6 July 2018 |
A new report from the OECD has urged governments to get serious about the issues of free-riding by online retailers of electronics who don’t adhere to waste compliance obligations.
Wales votes to ban microbeads
Wales votes to ban microbeads
By
Kate Dickinson
| 20 June 2018 |
Following a vote by the Welsh Assembly, plastic microbeads will be banned in personal care products in Wales from 30 June.
Understanding context key to tackling avoidable plastic waste
Understanding context key to tackling avoidable plastic waste
By
Gethin Roberts
| 18 June 2018 |
A new report published by Nextek and Resource Futures sets out frameworks for improving the role of the UK secondary plastics market, warning that many recent initiatives could ultimately detract from efforts to move to a circular economy.
HSE sets out health and safety solutions for waste sector
By
Kate Dickinson
| 18 June 2018 |
A new report into health and safety in the waste and recycling sector has underlined a need for better safety management to combat the disproportionate levels of fatal injury in the industry.
EU member states give circular economy package seal of approval
EU member states give circular economy package seal of approval
By
Rob Cole
| 25 May 2018 |
The final legislative hurdle to creating a more resource efficient Europe has been overcome after the EU Council approved the EU’s Circular Economy Package (CEP) in Brussels on Tuesday.
Chemical attraction
Chemical attraction: how cosmetics can damage the planet
By
Kate Dickinson
| 16 May 2018 |
The damaging effect of cosmetics on the environment was brought into the public eye by the UK ban on microbeads. But what about those less visible, chemical ingredients? 
Hidden chains
Hidden chains
By
Rob Cole
| 16 May 2018 |
Don’t be fooled into thinking slavery ended in the 19th century with the Abolition Act. Abuse of the vulnerable is happening today, right now, in all sectors of the UK – and the resources industry is no exception. 
New EA waste crime powers come into force
By
Kate Dickinson
| 29 April 2018 |
The Environment Agency (EA) will be providing waste enforcement officers with body cameras to tackle incidents of abuse as a new raft of waste crime powers comes into force.
Brentwood Communications emphasises safety aspect of mobile comms
By
Brentwood Communications
| 10 April 2018 |
Reliable mobile communications are crucial for monitoring and improving health and safety in waste management, says Brentwood Communications.
New EA charging regime to start in April
New EA charging regime to start in April
By
Rob Cole
| 22 March 2018 |
Changes to the Environment Agency’s charging and permits regime will come into force on 1 April despite industry concerns that this is too soon for businesses to prepare.
Wales to explore 80 per cent recycling target by 2035
Wales to explore 80 per cent recycling target by 2035
By
Rob Cole
| 15 March 2018 |
Wales could be set to target an 80 per cent municipal waste recycling rate by 2035, according to Welsh Minister for Environment Hannah Blythyn at the CIWM Resource Conference Cymru yesterday (14 March).
Industry welcomes consultation on fiscal measures to tackle ‘scourge’ of single-use plastics
Industry welcomes plastic tax consultation
By
Rob Cole
| 14 March 2018 |
The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement of a consultation on how the tax system can be used to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics has received widespread acclaim from the waste and resources industry following the Spring Statement yesterday (13 March).
Chancellor to launch consultation on plastics tax
Chancellor to launch consultation on single-use plastics tax
By
Rob Cole
| 12 March 2018 |
Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond is set to announce a public consultation on a plastics tax, along with a £20-million innovation fund to develop alternatives to the problem material.
Extended waste crime powers for Wales
Extended waste crime powers for Wales
By
Kate Dickinson
| 8 March 2018 |
New waste crime powers have been approved by the National Assembly for Wales to prevent access to problem waste sites and force operators to remove illegally-dumped waste.
ESA report notes wide variation in UK waste industry health and safety performance
ESA report notes wide variation in UK waste industry health and safety performance
By
Rob Cole
| 16 February 2018 |
The ESA has sought to highlight the ‘wide variation’ in health and safety performance within the waste industry in a report released today (16 February).
Hot 100 2018: Who are the leaders of the pack?
Hot 100 2018: Who is leading the pack?
By Resource |
6 February 2018 |
Our annual power list of movers and shakers in the waste and resources industry attracted a record number of votes this year. Here, you’ll find the winners from 100 to one, each accompanied by a voter’s glowing review. Read on to discover who has played their cards right and proved to be our Top Trump for 2018  
Cuts increase risk to waste and resources sector post-Brexit, says Greener UK
Cuts increase risk to waste and resources sector post-Brexit
By
Rob Cole
| 25 January 2018 |
Lack of funding at Defra could have serious repercussions for the waste and resources sector after Brexit, with Greener UK’s Brexit Risk Tracker maintaining it as a ‘high risk’ policy area.