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

John Bason, Chair of UK DMO
UK DMO appoints John Bason as chair for DRS rollout
By Resource |
29 August 2025 |
Former Associated British Foods finance director and FareShare chair selected to lead scheme administrator for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Recyclables being emptied out back of waste vehicle
Quarter of councils plan recycling service change with gate fees expected to rise
By
Charles Newman
| 28 August 2025 |
WRAP's latest annual report of treatment costs finds many councils have delayed decisions until government policies on Simpler Recycling and EPR are implemented. 
Truck carrying a waste skip on a uk motorway
Defra to replace waste carrier, broker and dealer registration with environmental permits
By Resource |
26 August 2025 |
Operators must pass assessments and training requirements under new permit system with enhanced enforcement powers
Huw Irranca-Davies holding a glass bottle
Wales launches reuse-focused deposit return scheme consultation
By
Charles Newman
| 19 August 2025 |
Stakeholders asked for views on proposed reuse targets for 2031-2040 and phased glass inclusion with zero deposit transition approach
© Florian Fussstetter/UNEP, Flickr album, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
UN plastic pollution treaty talks collapse without agreement
By
Charles Newman
| 15 August 2025 |
High Ambition Coalition nations including UK refuse to accept weakened text after 'like-minded' oil-producing countries block production caps
WEEE amendments make online platforms liable for overseas suppliers
By
Olivia Loughran
| 13 August 2025 |
New regulations come into force requiring online retailers to close loophole in producer responsibility obligations
Scotland aims to tackle lack of processing capacity for plastics, metals and batteries
By
Olivia Loughran
| 12 August 2025 |
Government's Waste Reprocessing Infrastructure Report highlights 98.7 per cent per cent of resources used in Scotland are not cycled back into the economy  
Parliamentary research team opens inquiry into managing legacy landfills
By
Olivia Loughran
| 7 August 2025 |
Investigation by Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology commissioned following ongoing fires at abandoned landfill in Rainham
Wet wipe
Defra announce draft regulations to enforce wet wipe ban in England
By
Olivia Loughran
| 30 July 2025 |
New rules propose a £200 fine for businesses selling wet wipes containing plastic
Recycling crew
Government provides details of £1.1 billion packaging EPR allocation for English councils
By Resource |
29 July 2025 |
Extended producer responsibility payments highlight the variability in costs of recycling services
Paul Synnott, MD of Seda UK
Packaging Reform Must Support – Not Stifle – Fibre-Based Innovation
By
Paul Synnott
| 25 July 2025 |
Paul Synnott, co-chair for the Alliance for Fibre-Based Packaging on the contradiction of current EPR base fees
Iain Gulland
Iain Gulland to step down as Zero Waste Scotland CEO
By
Charles Newman
| 24 July 2025 |
Founding chief executive will leave after 11 years leading Scotland's circular economy transition
UK makes interim waste ETS monitoring voluntary while seeking LA cost solutions
By
Charles Newman
| 22 July 2025 |
Carbon allowance obligations delayed as government hints at postponing EfW inclusion beyond 2028
Pile of waste tyres
Government plans waste exemptions overhaul to tackle criminal abuse
By
Charles Newman
| 16 July 2025 |
Defra restricts and removes 10 most abused exemptions used by criminals
Reverse vending machine for deposit return
Wales brings forward deposit return scheme to 2027
By Resource |
11 July 2025 |
Government announces alignment with UK timetable whilst maintaining glass and reuse provisions
European Commission flags in from of EC building
EC opens consultation on chemical recycling rules for plastic bottles
By Resource |
10 July 2025 |
Commission seeks feedback on methodology to calculate recycled content including advanced technologies
Woman's hands picking up plastic pollution on a beach
EFRA Committee hears concerns over "last chance" Global Plastics Treaty talks
By
Olivia Loughran
| 10 July 2025 |
Witnesses outline UK priorities ahead of critical INC-5.2 negotiations in Geneva next mont
The EU advances new vehicle design regulations for circularity in the automotive sector
By
Olivia Loughran
| 9 July 2025 |
Member states and manufacturers set to face new rules affecting end-of-life recyclability
Food waste caddy
Food waste figures a "wakeup call" for sector’s carbon ambitions
By Resource |
2 July 2025 |
Latest data shows six million tonnes wasted annually despite nine per cent reduction from 2021
North London sets zero landfill target and food waste reduction goals by 2040
By Resource |
1 July 2025 |
Seven boroughs commit to halving avoidable food waste and doubling recycling centre reuse rates