Government

Fashion producers should pay a penny per item to fund waste collection, say MPs
UK Central Government
Fashion producers should pay a penny per item to fund waste collection, say MPs

Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) is calling for a one pence producer responsibility fee to be paid by fashion brands and retailers on each item of clothing they sell in order to fund better textile waste collection.


In a new report released yesterday (19 February), entitled ‘Fixing fashion: Clothing consumption and sustainability’, the EAC has called for the fashion industry to... More

Bulky waste collections could increase recycling rates by 1.5 per cent
UK Local Authority
Bulky waste collections could increase recycling rates by 1.5 per cent

New research suggests local authorities could boost recycling and save more than £450,000 over five years by introducing collections of bulky waste for reuse.

Dsposal's Developer Georgios Rovolis, CEO Tom Passmore and COO Sophie Walker
UK Central Government
Dsposal wins £80k government waste crime contract

Manchester-based compliance start-up Dsposal has been awarded a contract worth £80,000 to develop a smart waste tracking system to combat waste crime across the UK.

Plastic packaging
Government launches resources and waste consultations
By
Kate Dickinson
| 18 February 2019 |
Consultations have been opened on four key measures in the Resources and Waste Strategy, seeking views on producer responsibility, consistent collections, deposit return schemes and the plastics tax.
UK recycling rate increases to 45.7 per cent
UK recycling rate increases to 45.7 per cent
By
Rob Cole
| 15 February 2019 |
The UK’s Waste from Households recycling rate has risen 0.5 per cent to 45.7 per cent in 2017, according to the latest official statistics from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Birmingham bin strike talks collapse
Birmingham bin strike talks collapse
By
Rob Cole
| 13 February 2019 |
Strike action by refuse workers over the ongoing dispute between the Unite union and Birmingham City Council is set to go ahead as peace talks between the two parties collapsed yesterday (12 February).
Waste criminal ordered to pay £1.3m for WEEE recycling fraud
Waste criminal ordered to pay £1.3m for WEEE recycling fraud
By
Rob Cole
| 8 February 2019 |
A convicted waste criminal has been ordered to pay £1.3 million for defrauding e-waste recycling schemes out of millions of pounds in a Proceeds of Crime hearing at Leeds Crown Court.
Education pilot doubles amount of food waste collected in Ireland
Education pilot in Ireland doubles amount of food waste collected
By
Rob Cole
| 7 February 2019 |
Households in the Irish town of Sligo have more than doubled the amount of organic waste collected for recycling following a year-long consumer awareness programme.
Ban plastic waste exports to developing countries, say MPs
Ban plastic waste exports to developing countries, say MPs
By
Kate Dickinson
| 7 February 2019 |
A cross-party group of MPs has called for a complete ban on the export of the UK’s plastic waste to developing countries, but industry figures question whether this is the best solution to the plastic waste problem.
Second hand furniture in a reuse shop
Local authorities in Wales champion reuse
By
Kate Dickinson
| 4 February 2019 |
All Welsh councils now share information about reuse with their residents after a campaign by CIWM Cymru and Fly-tipping Action Wales.
EAC report finds leading retailers lagging behind on fashion sustainability
EAC report finds leading retailers lagging behind on fashion sustainability
By
Rob Cole
| 31 January 2019 |
A group of major UK retailers are not doing enough to reduce the environmental and social impact of the clothes they sell, according to an interim report published by Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee.
EU microplastics ban could be in force by 2020
EU microplastics ban could be in force by 2020
By
Kate Dickinson
| 30 January 2019 |
The European Union could be banning a range of microplastics in products by 2020 – but critics say the proposal needs to be tightened up to ensure it will have “real impact”.
Gove raises prospect of waste stockpiling in the event of ‘no deal’ Brexit
Gove raises prospect of waste stockpiling in the event of ‘no deal’ Brexit
By
Rob Cole
| 29 January 2019 |
The Environment Secretary Michael Gove has outlined Defra’s preparations for the stockpiling of waste in the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit in a letter to Lord Teverson, Chair of the European Union Energy and Environment Sub-Committee in the House of Lords.
Welsh projects share £1.4m funding from Landfill Disposals Tax
Welsh projects share £1.4m funding from Landfill Disposals Tax
By
Rob Cole
| 28 January 2019 |
The Welsh Government has revealed a range of environmental projects set to benefit from more than £1 million of funding raised through its Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme.
Iceland to trial Northern Ireland’s first reverse vending machine
Iceland to trial Northern Ireland’s first reverse vending machine
By
Rob Cole
| 28 January 2019 |
UK retailer Iceland has introduced the first in-store reverse vending machine in Northern Ireland as it continues its efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of single-use plastics on the environment.
FCC Environment wins Suffolk recycling centre contract
By
Rob Cole
| 27 January 2019 |
Resource and waste management business FCC Environment has been awarded the new contract for the operation of Suffolk County Council’s network of 11 recycling centres. 
Industry campaign to support council paper and card collections
By
Rob Cole
| 27 January 2019 |
The Confederation of Paper Industries has launched OUR PAPER, a new initiative supporting councils to improve the quality and quantity of paper and card separately collected for recycling.
France to force online retailers to tackle compliance free-riding
By
Rob Cole
| 27 January 2019 |
The French Government is set to introduce new rules obligating online marketplaces, such as Amazon, to ensure that the collection and recycling of waste arising from products sold through their sites is properly financed.
Countries need to become circular to avoid climate change, says report
By
Kate Dickinson
| 22 January 2019 |
The Global Circularity Gap Report 2019 states that only nine per cent of the world’s natural resources are being reused – and governments must drive changes in unsustainable patterns of consumption to avoid global warming.
REA launches bioenergy review
REA launches bioenergy review
By
Rob Cole
| 22 January 2019 |
The Renewable Energy Association has launched a call for evidence as part of a far-reaching review of the future of bioenergy in the UK.
EU paves way for right to repair
EU paves way for right to repair
By
Rob Cole
| 18 January 2019 |
The EU will introduce legislation obliging manufacturers to make their products longer-lasting and easier to repair following ratification by European environment ministries.
New research shows vast extent of fly-tipping
New research shows vast extent of fly-tipping
By
Rob Cole
| 17 January 2019 |
New research from The Furniture Recycling Group (TFR Group) has revealed that 646,039 fly-tipping incidents were recorded in just five cities since 2013.
Go Plant Fleet Service secures £25m Harrow deal
Go Plant Fleet Services secures £25m Harrow deal
By
Kate Dickinson
| 16 January 2019 |
Go Plant Fleet Services has landed a major contract in Harrow to provide refuse collection vehicles for the council.