Business Legislation

EU paves way for right to repair
EU paves way for right to repair

The EU will introduce legislation obliging manufacturers to make their products longer-lasting and easier to repair following ratification by European environment ministries.


The new rules, signed off this week (15 January), will enter into force from April 2021 and will apply to household consumer products such as lighting, display screens, washing machines, dishwashers and fridges.


Following the announcement, Chloe Fayole of ECOS (European Environmental Citizens Organisation... More

South Korea latest country to ban single-use plastic bags
South Korea latest country to ban single-use plastic bags

The South Korean Government has banned single-use plastic bags, with potential fines of over £2,000 for businesses that do not comply with the new rules.

It’s time to vote for your Legends of Waste in this year’s Hot 100!
It’s time to vote for your Legends of Waste in this year’s Hot 100!

Who across the waste and resources world has done enough to etch their name into the pantheon of greats as this year’s Legend of Waste? You can tell us now by voting in this year’s Hot 100.

Industry welcomes ‘bold and radical’ Resources and Waste Strategy
Industry welcomes ‘bold and radical’ Resources and Waste Strategy
By
Rob Cole
| 18 December 2018 |
Key stakeholders have largely welcomed the publication of the Resources and Waste Strategy by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), calling it a “blueprint for the future” and “bold and radical”, though some reservations remain.
Resources and Waste Strategy outlines government’s circular ambitions
Resources and Waste Strategy outlines government’s circular ambitions
By
Rob Cole
| 18 December 2018 |
Plans to introduce separate food waste collections to every household in England by 2023 and ensure producers pay for the costs of managing their waste packaging have been included in the long-awaited Resources and Waste Strategy.
SEPA plans to make Scotland’s metal sector go circular
SEPA plans to make Scotland’s metal sector go circular
By
Kate Nicholson
| 12 December 2018 |
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has devised a new sector plan to make Scotland’s metal sector part of the nation’s emerging circular economy.
FEAD calls for simplification of EU Waste Shipment Regulation
FEAD calls for simplification of EU Waste Shipment Regulation
By
Rob Cole
| 7 November 2018 |
The European Federation of Waste Management and Environmental Services (FEAD) has called on the European Commission to simplify the Waste Shipment Regulation and harmonise enforcement across EU member states.
Public support for resource efficient policies, says report
Public supports resource efficient policies, says report
By
Rob Cole
| 5 November 2018 |
Three quarters of the UK public want the government to ensure that businesses produce repairable and recyclable products, while 90 per cent believe that all packaging should be made recyclable, according to a new survey conducted by Cardiff University.
Defra still short of 1,400 staff ahead of EU withdrawal deadline
Defra still short of 1,400 staff ahead of EU withdrawal deadline
By
Rob Cole
| 17 October 2018 |
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is still short of 1,400 staff as the Brexit deadline of March 2019 approaches, having already recruited 1,300 new employees since April 2018.
Record fines handed out for waste crime, says EA report
Record fines handed out for waste crime, says EA report
By
Rob Cole
| 16 October 2018 |
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.
Scotland to ban the burning of waste plastic from farms
Scotland to ban the burning of waste plastic from farms
By
Kate Dickinson
| 31 August 2018 |
Burning farm plastics will be illegal in Scotland from 2019 after the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) vowed to end exemptions enabling the practice.
Unprecedented public support for tax on plastics following Treasury consultation
Unprecedented public support for plastics tax after Treasury consultation
By
Rob Cole
| 20 August 2018 |
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
By
Gethin Roberts
| 25 July 2018 |
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.