Carbon

Landfill vs incineration: what’s best for leftover plastics?
Burning plastic threatens net zero targets, says study

Plastic must be removed from waste sent to incinerators to reduce the carbon impact of waste incineration, according to a new report from Eunomia Research and Consulting.

Welsh recycling bins
Welsh Government commits to future in ‘Beyond Recycling’ report

A new strategy unveiled by the Welsh Government aims to make the circular economy a reality in Wales

Food and drink companies reach CO2 reduction targets five years early

Food and drink companies are well ahead of deadline with CO2 reduction targets met five years early, leading to an updated list of sustainability commitments by FDF members

Teeside EfW plant
Planning permission granted for Teesside EfW facility
By
Patrick Jowett
| 8 February 2021 |
The £300 million facility is expected to export low-carbon electricity for homes and boost local job opportunities
CCSA Chief Executive Luke Warren
Viridor joins Carbon Capture and Storage Association
By
Patrick Jowett
| 26 January 2021 |
The recycling and waste management company is to become the first from the waste sector to join the CCSA
Clothing in a shop
UK businesses must commit to decarbonising fashion industry, says WRAP
By
Lidia Creech
| 10 November 2020 |
With over half of the UK public agreeing that sustainability is a key factor in choosing the clothes they wear, WRAP has urged UK businesses to demonstrate their commitment to tackling the carbon footprint of producing clothes by joining Textiles 2030.
Two operatives with an e-bike from Putney Pedals
E-bike waste collection service to reduce emissions in Putney
By
Lidia Creech
| 8 October 2020 |
A new e-bike waste collection service called Putney Pedals, set up by Positively Putney and the London Waste and Recycling Board, aims to reduce carbon emissions on one of London’s busiest high streets.
Teesside EfW plant
EfW potentially more damaging than landfill
By
Lidia Creech
| 6 October 2020 |
A new report commissioned by Zero Waste Scotland highlights the climate change challenges posed by the country’s existing energy-from-waste infrastructure.
Oil rig
Oil industry threatened by projected fall in plastic demand
By
Lidia Creech
| 4 September 2020 |
A new report by think tank Carbon Tracker and consultancy SYSTEMIQ has found that global efforts to tackle climate change and plastic waste could result in £300 billion of stranded petrochemical assets for the oil industry.
mining pit
Earth Overshoot Day falls three weeks later this year – but are we really making progress?
By
Emma Love
| 21 August 2020 |
The coronavirus pandemic means Earth Overshoot Day has fallen just under a month later than last year, and Global Footprint Network has developed new solutions to continue to #MoveTheDate.
EU waste shipment regulation revision must not hinder EfW, says ESWET
By
Lidia Creech
| 5 August 2020 |
The European Suppliers of Waste-To-Energy Technology (ESWET) has released a policy briefing highlighting the need for any revision to the EU Waste Shipment Regulation to continue to allow the shipment of waste for energy recovery.
One million tonnes of waste diverted from landfill at Trident Park ERF
By
Lidia Creech
| 5 August 2020 |
Waste management company Viridor and Prosiect Gwyrdd (Project Green) celebrate the milestone of one million tonnes diverted from landfill at the Trident Park Energy Recovery Facility (ERF).
ARC plant
Geminor signs contract to provide low-carbon RDF
By
Lidia Creech
| 1 July 2020 |
Resource management company Geminor has signed a contract with Danish energy-from-waste company ARC to provide low-carbon refuse-derived fuel to the Copenhagen region.
Charter to bring consistent recycling collections to Scotland
Turning food waste into value key to meeting climate goals, says report
By
Lidia Creech
| 30 June 2020 |
A new report by Zero Waste Scotland has concluded that food reform is vital to Scotland reaching net-zero by 2045, with finding ways to turn food waste into value at the heart of this reform.
Transition to circular economy must be part of climate strategy, says CCC
Transition to circular economy must be part of climate strategy, says CCC
By
Olivia Rutherford
| 26 June 2020 |
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) has urged the government to accelerate the transition to a circular economy as part of a Covid-19 recovery plan that prioritises the climate crisis, reiterating its call for a ban on biodegradable waste to landfill by 2025.
Repairing an electronic item
Repair Café Conference to launch new Carbon Calculator
By
Imogen Benson
| 5 March 2020 |
A ‘Repair Café Carbon Calculator’ is set to be previewed at the UK’s first Repair Café Conference on 12 March in Farnham, Surrey.
An image of an anaerobic digestion plant
Biomethane could deliver 30 per cent of UK’s 2030 carbon budget, says ADBA
By
Imogen Benson
| 4 March 2020 |
A new report from the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) has revealed that biomethane has the potential to deliver 30 per cent of the UK’s 2030 carbon budget. 
Sharon Hodgson MP debating in Westminster Hall
MPs call for incineration tax in Commons debate
By
Imogen Benson
| 13 February 2020 |
MPs expressed concerns over the environmental and public health risks of incineration in a debate in Westminster Hall on Tuesday (13 February). 
A Geesinknorba electric vehicle
Local authorities should switch to electric refuse vehicles, says report
By
Imogen Benson
| 27 January 2020 |
Switching the UK’s diesel-powered refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) for electric trucks could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 290,000 tonnes of CO2 each year, according to a new report from Eunomia Research and Consulting.
Soil quality at heart of Agriculture Bill
Soil quality at heart of Agriculture Bill
By
Lidia Creech
| 17 January 2020 |
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has reintroduced the Agriculture Bill to Parliament, with soil quality at the heart of a new land management system that rewards farmers for environmental protection.
European flags
European Parliament backs Green Deal
By
Imogen Benson
| 17 January 2020 |
The European Parliament has voted to support the Green Deal for Europe under the condition that amendments are made. 
No time to waste
No time to waste
By
Imogen Benson
| 11 December 2019 |
Local authorities across the UK are declaring Climate Emergencies, committing to reducing their carbon emissions to net zero. But how can their waste management contribute to that aim? Imogen Benson reports.
The flag of Scotland
Scotland’s household recycling rate falls to 44.7 per cent
By
Lidia Creech
| 18 September 2019 |
Statistics from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency reveal that Scotland’s household recycling rate for 2018 has fallen by 0.9 per cent, though the carbon impact of Scottish household waste has also fallen once again.