Materials

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

MPs launch inquiry into sustainability of the fashion industry
Textiles
MPs launch inquiry into sustainability of the fashion industry

Parliament’s cross-party Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has launched a new inquiry into the sustainability of the fashion industry.

Tesco ranked top supermarket for food waste prevention
Organics
Tesco ranked top supermarket for food waste prevention

Tesco has come out on top in a list of the UK’s best and worst supermarkets at preventing food waste, compiled by food waste campaign group Feedback. 

£20m government fund for plastics research and innovation
£20m government fund for plastics research and innovation
By
Kate Dickinson
| 21 June 2018 |
The government has announced a new £20-million Plastics Research and Innovation Fund to develop cutting-edge and circular approaches to plastics manufacturing in the UK.
Wales votes to ban microbeads
Wales votes to ban microbeads
By
Kate Dickinson
| 20 June 2018 |
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
By
Rob Cole
| 20 June 2018 |
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.
SUEZ opens new EfW plants in Wilton and Cornwall
SUEZ opens new EfW plants in Wilton and Cornwall
By
Rob Cole
| 19 June 2018 |
Waste management company SUEZ recycling and recovery UK has officially opened two new state-of-the-art Energy from Waste (EfW) plants in Cornwall and Wilton in Redcar.
UK plastic exports to Malaysia triple following China ban
UK plastic exports to Malaysia triple following China ban
By
Rob Cole
| 19 June 2018 |
UK plastic waste exports to Malaysia have tripled in the first four months of 2018 following China’s ban on 24 grades of solid waste at the start of the year, according to the latest HMRC figures.
174,000 tonnes of plastic packaging lost annually in Kenyan environment
174,000 tonnes of plastic packaging lost annually in Kenyan environment
By
Gethin Roberts
| 19 June 2018 |
Report estimates that in Kenya 174,000 tonnes of packaging is either taken to illegal dump sites or left in the environment every year.
John Lewis to reduce waste by buying back unwanted clothing
By
Gethin Roberts
| 18 June 2018 |
A new app, developed in partnership with Stuffstr, will enable customers to sell their clothes back to John Lewis to be reused or recycled.
Understanding context key to tackling avoidable plastic waste
Understanding context key to tackling avoidable plastic waste
By
Gethin Roberts
| 18 June 2018 |
A new report published by Nextek and Resource Futures sets out frameworks for improving the role of the UK secondary plastics market, warning that many recent initiatives could ultimately detract from efforts to move to a circular economy.
Wolverhampton latest council to cut food waste collections
Wolverhampton latest council to cut food waste collections
By
Kate Dickinson
| 15 June 2018 |
The City of Wolverhampton will stop its food waste collection service completely by the end of June, apparently as a money-saving measure.
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.
Recycled plastic could supply 71 per cent of UK demand, new report finds
By
Gethin Roberts
| 14 June 2018 |
A new report by Green Alliance finds that £1.7 billion worth of plastics, food and electronics are lost to the UK economy each year because UK collection systems do not enable domestic reuse or recycling.
Could you go plastic free for the oceans this July?
Could you go plastic free for the oceans this July?
By
Kate Dickinson
| 13 June 2018 |
The Marine Conservation Society is asking people to give up single-use plastics for the month of July in a bid to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans. 
Spain taken to EU court for waste management failures
Spain taken to EU court for waste management failures
By
Gethin Roberts
| 12 June 2018 |
The European Commission is referring Spain to the European Court of Justice after repeated calls to establish waste management plans went unanswered.
Hansons UK makes 85 per cent cut in waste to landfill since 2010
Hanson UK makes 85 per cent cut in waste to landfill since 2010
By
Rob Cole
| 12 June 2018 |
Hanson UK, a leading building materials supplier, has gone beyond its 2020 target of reducing the amount of non-process waste from its operations sent to landfill by 85 per cent since 2010, according to its latest sustainability report.
70 per cent of hospitality businesses aim to reduce single-use plastics, says new report
By
Gethin Roberts
| 12 June 2018 |
BRITA UK’s report finds that while eight out of 10 hospitality businesses view reducing waste as a priority, especially single-use plastics, cost is seen as a significant potential barrier to achieving this.
WEEE compliance fees total £8m after low collections in 2017
WEEE compliance fees total £8m after low collections in 2017
By
Kate Dickinson
| 8 June 2018 |
An £8-million fund for the recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) has been raised through the use of the WEEE compliance fee system in 2017. 
‘Ghost fishing’, paddle boarding and beach cleans: World Oceans Day 2018
‘Ghost fishing’, paddle boarding and beach cleans: World Oceans Day 2018
By
Gethin Roberts
| 8 June 2018 |
The global annual event on 8 June is focusing on the zeitgeist issue of plastic pollution in the oceans, and wants to encourage more young people than ever to make a stand.
Construction waste: ‘Out of site’, out of mind?
Construction waste: ‘Out of site’, out of mind?
By
Allan Sandilands
| 8 June 2018 |
With plastics waste hogging the headlines, Allan Sandilands, Senior Consultant at Resource Futures, shines a light on construction waste – the ‘silent sector’ that has slipped under the radar at a time of heightened focus on waste and resources
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.