Business Legislation

Chemical attraction

Cosmetics are integral to our everyday lives – and whether we like it or not, so are their ingredients. The average adult uses nine personal care products every day, according to the Environmental Working Group, an American organisation researching and advocating around toxic chemicals, amounting to 126 unique chemical ingredients in leave-on and rinse-off products including face and body washes, shower gels, cleansers, moisturisers, deodorants… and that’s before we mention makeup.

Hidden chains

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

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.
Lords question Brexit’s effect on UK waste trade
Lords question Brexit’s effect on UK waste trade
By
Kate Dickinson
| 23 January 2018 |
The EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee has called for clarity on the future of UK waste policy and the protection of barrier-free trade with Europe.
EU plastics strategy aims to build secondary markets to make recycling plastics ‘profitable’
EU plastics strategy aims to build secondary markets to make recycling plastics ‘profitable’
By
Rob Cole
| 16 January 2018 |
The EU has adopted the first ever Europe-wide plastics strategy, placing an emphasis on creating secondary markets for recycled plastics in its bid to create a truly circular economy in Europe.
New waste crime powers beef up Environment Agency enforcement at problem sites
New waste crime powers beef up Environment Agency enforcement at problem sites
By
Edward Perchard
| 15 January 2018 |
The Environment Agency will be able to lock the gates at problem waste sites and force operators to clear all their waste under new waste crime powers to be introduced by the government this spring, while a consultation is considering further measures to take.
Scotland proposes total ban on plastic cotton buds
Scotland proposes total ban on plastic cotton buds
By
Sid Hayns-W
| 12 January 2018 |
Scottish Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham proposes a ban on the sale and manufacture of plastic-stemmed cotton buds. 
Government commits to zero avoidable plastic waste by 2042 in 25 Year Environment Plan
Government commits to zero 'avoidable' plastic waste by 2042 in 25 Year Environment Plan
By
Rob Cole
| 11 January 2018 |
The government’s war on plastic has been given top billing in its long-delayed 25 Year Environment Plan, with Theresa May calling for supermarket aisles to become 'plastic free' by 2042. 
Avoiding a dog’s Brexit for waste and resources
Avoiding a dog’s Brexit for waste and resources
By
Libby Peake
| 8 January 2018 |
Libby Peake, Senior Policy Adviser at the Green Alliance think tank, says Brexit talk must turn to action if we are to avoid an environmental policy gap.
Starbucks to test coffee cup charge as industry responds to EAC report
Starbucks to test coffee cup charge as industry responds to EAC report
By
Kate Dickinson
| 5 January 2018 |
Environmental charity Hubbub will work with coffee giant Starbucks to trial a five pence charge, while industry commenters say wider reform is needed to effect change.
Charge for coffee cups will help tackle packaging waste, say MPs
Charge for coffee cups will help tackle packaging waste, say MPs
By
Kate Dickinson
| 5 January 2018 |
In its new report, the Environmental Audit Committee has advised the government to apply a 25 pence levy to disposable coffee cups in order to recycle them all by 2023.
Two-day RWM to be bolstered by partner shows after sale
Two-day RWM to be bolstered by partner shows after sale
By
Edward Perchard
| 4 January 2018 |
RWM, one of the waste management industry’s leading trade shows, has been bought by events organiser The PRYSM Group, which is to co-locate the show with its range of environmental conferences.
UK recycling industry braced for impact as Chinese crackdown begins
UK recycling industry braced for impact as Chinese crackdown begins
By
Rob Cole
| 3 January 2018 |
Chinese restrictions on imports of 24 grades of solid waste were adopted on Monday and are set to cause significant discomfort in the UK recycling sector, with the Recycling Association saying that stockpiled plastics are already building up in members’ yards.
MPs call for bottle deposit scheme and producer responsibility overhaul
MPs call for bottle deposit scheme and producer responsibility overhaul
By
Edward Perchard
| 21 December 2017 |
The UK needs a nationwide deposit return scheme for plastic bottles and overhaul producer responsibility rules if it is to turn back the tide on plastic waste entering the environment, according to Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee.