Legislation

Deposit return: A tried and tested solution for Scotland
Deposit return: A tried and tested solution for Scotland

The Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘tried and tested’ as: ‘denoting something that has proven in the past to be effective or reliable’. Deposit return systems (DRS) are a tried and tested way of significantly increasing recycling rates while reducing plastic pollution and marine litter, which likely explains why support for such schemes has been gaining momentum all over the world as a solution to the problems caused by single-use beverage packaging.

Wales votes to ban microbeads
Wales votes to ban microbeads

Following a vote by the Welsh Assembly, plastic microbeads will be banned in personal care products in Wales from 30 June.

EU Circular Economy Package becomes law
EU Circular Economy Package becomes law

The EU’s Circular Economy Package (CEP) has been published in the EU’s Official Journal, meaning the legislation will enter into force at the start of July, 20 days after its publication.

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.
Five things we learned at Resourcing the Future 2018
Five things we learned at Resourcing the Future 2018
By Resource |
15 June 2018 |
From marine litter and the UK Plastics Pact to China’s waste ban and the future of waste and resources strategy, here are some of our key moments from a busy two days of discussion and debate at CIWM’s Resourcing the Future conference.
UK and EU must act to ensure continued trade of RDF, says industry group
UK and EU must act to ensure continued trade of RDF, says industry group
By
Rob Cole
| 7 June 2018 |
The refuse derived fuel Industry Group has called for urgent action from the UK Government and the EU to ensure that the export of RDF from the UK to Europe will continue unhindered after Brexit.
India to eliminate single-use plastic by 2022
India to eliminate single-use plastic by 2022
By
Kate Dickinson
| 7 June 2018 |
The Indian Government has taken an “unprecedented” step against plastic pollution in pledging to cut out all single-use plastics by 2022.
‘Latte levy’ could cost £819m and risk UK jobs, says industry group
‘Latte levy’ could cost £819m and risk UK jobs, says industry group
By
Rob Cole
| 5 June 2018 |
The Paper Cup Alliance, which represents UK cup manufacturers, has claimed that a levy on disposable coffee cups could cost the economy £819 million and result in 11,000 job losses in the coffee retail sector.
Barnet considers scrapping separate food waste service
Barnet considers scrapping separate food waste service
By
Rob Cole
| 4 June 2018 |
Barnet Council is considering scrapping its weekly food waste collections in favour of sending it to incineration along with residual waste, despite the local Conservative Party’s election manifesto containing a promise to maintain the service.
Coffee chain Boston Tea Party bans single-use takeaway cups
Coffee chain Boston Tea Party bans single-use takeaway cups
By
Rob Cole
| 1 June 2018 |
Independent coffee shop chain Boston Tea Party has banned the sale of single-use coffee cups in its 22 stores from today (1 June), with takeaway beverages now only available in a reusable cup.
Scotland bans disposable coffee cups in government buildings
Scotland bans disposable coffee cups in government buildings
By
Kate Dickinson
| 1 June 2018 |
The Scottish Parliament has announced that it will be banning single-use coffee cups in its main buildings in order to cut down on single-use plastic waste.
Reduce residual waste collections to reach EU recycling targets, says ESA
Reduce residual waste collections to reach EU recycling targets, says ESA
By
Kate Dickinson
| 30 May 2018 |
UK councils could meet EU recycling targets by reducing residual waste collections and increasing separate food waste services – but at a significant extra cost without government intervention, according to a new report from the Environmental Services Association.
EU proposes single-use plastic bans to combat marine litter
EU proposes single-use plastic bans to combat marine litter
By
Kate Dickinson
| 29 May 2018 |
The European Commission has proposed a full ban on some of the most commonly used and littered disposable plastic products in Europe, including single-use cutlery, plates, drinks stirrers, straws, cotton buds and sticks for balloons.
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.
Which local authority is England’s worst fly-tipping offender?
Which local authority is England’s worst fly-tipping offender?
By
Gethin Roberts
| 23 May 2018 |
New research finds that The City of London has the biggest illegal rubbish dumping problem in England, with 238 fly-tipping incidents per 1,000 people.
Mayor of London targets 50 per cent cut in food waste in final Environment Strategy
Mayor of London targets 50 per cent cut in food waste in final Environment Strategy
By
Rob Cole
| 23 May 2018 |
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has presented the final draft of his London Environment Strategy to the London Assembly for consideration, with targets such as becoming a zero-carbon city and reducing the capital’s food waste by 50 per cent by 2030 among the proposals in the revised document.
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? 
EU ‘waste-based fossil fuels’ proposal faces growing opposition
By
Gethin Roberts
| 11 May 2018 |
Environmental campaigners voice concern as proposed revisions to the Renewable Energy Directive’s ‘waste-based fossil fuels’ regulation could see plastics being used as transport fuel.
Government to consult on new environmental watchdog
Government to consult on new environmental watchdog
By
Rob Cole
| 10 May 2018 |
A new independent environmental body will hold the government to account for the environmental outcomes of its policies following the UK’s departure from the EU, Defra has announced.
Defra Brexit preparations held back by lack of clarity
Defra Brexit preparations held back by lack of clarity
By
Rob Cole
| 4 May 2018 |
Continued uncertainty over what the UK’s departure from the EU will mean in practice are seriously impeding the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) preparations for Brexit, according to a new report by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Food waste collections boost NI recycling rate to 47.1 per cent
Food waste collections boost NI recycling rate to 47.1 per cent
By
Rob Cole
| 2 May 2018 |
Northern Ireland’s recycling rate for the last three months of 2017 has jumped to 47.1 per cent, an increase of five points on the same period in 2016, which Daera attributes to new food waste regulations.  
New EA waste crime powers come into force
By
Kate Dickinson
| 29 April 2018 |
The Environment Agency (EA) will be providing waste enforcement officers with body cameras to tackle incidents of abuse as a new raft of waste crime powers comes into force.
DRS will be introduced by 2020, Gove tells MPs
By
Kate Dickinson
| 19 April 2018 |
The government hopes to launch a new Environmental Protection Act, which will include legislation for a deposit return scheme, at the start of the next Parliamentary session, Environment Secretary Michael Gove has told MPs.