Government

Kerbside box with plastic and cans
UK Local Authority
Councils face projected £61m annual loss of income from DRS

Local authorities in England will lose an estimated £61.4 million per year in net income once the deposit return scheme (DRS) reaches its 90 per cent return rate target, according to analysis by compliance scheme Valpak.  

aerial image of an AD plant
UK Central Government
Environment Agency replaces quality protocols with resource frameworks

New guidance for compost, digestate and biomethane tightens plastics limits and removes market restrictions

Cages for fish farming in Scotland
Devolved Governments
Scotland consults on circular economy strategy to 2045

Draft strategy identifies five priority sectors and introduces national monitoring framework

Cover of WRAP's LA toolkit
Communication resources released for Simpler Recycling rollout
By Resource |
16 October 2025 |
WRAP toolkit published with guidance and editable templates for local authorities implementing reforms
Waste electrical and electronic equipment collected in metal cages
Defra consults on WEEE compliance fee for 2025
By
Charles Newman
| 14 October 2025 |
Four-week consultation seeks industry views on single proposal for producer compliance schemes
Energy from Waste residual treatment plant in Germany
Zero Waste Europe proposes cap-and-trade system for residual waste
By
Charles Newman
| 9 October 2025 |
Revenue-neutral levy mechanism between Member States as part of Circular Economy Act would reduce both landfill and incineration, reducing sector's greenhouse gas emissions
Food waste caddy being emptied by operative
Defra details £88.4m for English councils' food waste collections
By Resource |
8 October 2025 |
Capital grant allocations made to LAs in past two years reaches £317.8 million
Plant-based biodegradable materials used to substitute for single-use plastic
Inconsistent plastic definitions across UK regs create barriers for bio-materials
By Resource |
2 October 2025 |
BB-REG-NET report reveals regulatory confusion hampering manufacturers developing sustainable alternatives
Person preparing food with scraps put in a food waste caddy
Household food waste a major contributor to biodiversity loss
By Resource |
29 September 2025 |
New research published by Zero Waste Scotland shows environmental impact extends beyond climate to habitat destruction
Hands holding a bit of green plastic film
UK tax policies undermine bio-based plastics despite circular economy goals
By Resource |
26 September 2025 |
Research finds bio-based alternatives face £520 per tonne EPR fees while incinerating plastic waste generates 3 million tonnes of CO2 annually
Hand holding reprocessed polypropylene pellets
First food-safe polypropylene produced from ocean-bound waste
By Resource |
25 September 2025 |
Partnership prevents 500 million cups reaching oceans whilst meeting European food contact standards
Aeriel view of a cement factory in France
Circular economy measures could cut EU cement emissions by 50 million tonnes
By Resource |
24 September 2025 |
European Commission research identifies production-focused interventions as more effective than recycling approaches
Warehouse worker with hardhat wrapping boxes in stretch film parcel on pallet
UK plastic packaging tax undermined by fraudulent recycled content claims
By
Olivia Loughran
| 22 September 2025 |
RECOUP report reveals imported packaging falsely claiming recycled content is undermining UK recyclers' competitiveness
Surgical gloves being discarded
NHS shift from single-use plastics to bio-based products could unlock £120 million market
By
Olivia Loughran
| 18 September 2025 |
Research identifies opportunity to expand the UK bioeconomy through sustainable public purchasing
Unpacking the new EU rules on textiles and food waste
By
Olivia Loughran
| 18 September 2025 |
New revision of Waste Framework Directive introduces binding food waste targets and EPR schemes for textiles
Gillian Martin, Iain Gulland, Dominic Fry at pioneering biotech start-up, MiAlgae
Scotland circular economy worth £7.1bn and 81,000 jobs study shows
By
Charles Newman
| 11 September 2025 |
State of the Circular Economy report reveals 'significant and thriving' economic landscape
Caerphilly secures site for new recycling depot as part of £55M switch to kerbside sort
By
Olivia Loughran
| 11 September 2025 |
Council purchases Dyffryn Business Park facility as part of capital investment in service change to the Welsh Government’s Collection Blueprint
Artist impression of how future Teeside WFW facility might look like
Newcastle councillors vote to withdraw from £2.1bn waste incinerator project
By
Olivia Loughran
| 9 September 2025 |
Non-binding motion passes by a single vote amid cost and pollution concerns
Whole used tyres for recycling
TRA warns domestic tyre processors could follow plastics industry into crisis
By Resource |
8 September 2025 |
Industry body warns of similar fate to plastics sector amid market pressures and regulatory failures
Emma Reynolds, appointed Secretary of State for DEFRA
Reynolds appointed Environment Secretary as Reed moves to housing
By Resource |
8 September 2025 |
Treasury minister takes Defra reins following cabinet reshuffle
Lancashire councils urged to adopt three-weekly household waste collections
By
Olivia Loughran
| 4 September 2025 |
County authority pushes districts toward extended collection intervals to secure £6 million savings
Conveyor belt leading a mix of plastics and bioplastics to a near infra red sorter
Bio-based plastic sorting trial demonstrates recycling breakthrough
By Resource |
3 September 2025 |
PROSPER project successfully separates contaminated bio-based packaging from conventional plastic streams using NIR technology
FlexCollect 'survival' bag for plastic film to be collected in
FlexCollect results show blueprint for flexible plastic packaging collections
By
Charles Newman
| 1 September 2025 |
Three-year project demonstrates viable collection methods whilst identifying capacity gap and policy reform needs for 2027 rollout