Materials

Fashion producers should pay a penny per item to fund waste collection, say MPs
Textiles
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
Materials Other
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.

Plastic packaging
Packaging
Government launches resources and waste consultations

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.

A disposable coffee cup in a bin
Businesses join forces to tackle Scotland’s coffee cup waste
By
Kate Dickinson
| 15 February 2019 |
Some of the UK’s biggest disposable coffee cup retailers, recyclers and producers, including Frugalpac, have teamed up for the Cup Movement, a new recycling and reduction scheme in Scotland.
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).
OPRL celebrates its first 10 years
OPRL celebrates its first 10 years
By
Rob Cole
| 12 February 2019 |
The On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) scheme is celebrating 10 years since its foundation in 2009 with the aim of engaging consumers more actively in recycling through simple visual cues on packaging.
Nominees for Best Recycled Plastic Product awards announced
Nominees for Best Recycled Plastic Product awards announced
By
Rob Cole
| 11 February 2019 |
A sustainable plastic toothbrush and a recycled plastic wine bottle are among the innovative products in the running for this year’s Best Recycled Plastic Product Innovation and Sustainability in Plastics Recycling awards.
Recycling Technologies appoints new Technical Director
Recycling Technologies appoints new Technical Director
By
Rob Cole
| 11 February 2019 |
Plastic recycling specialists Recycling Technologies has announced the appointment of Marvine Besong to the position of Technical Director as it prepares to commence commercial manufacturing of its feedstock recycling machine, the RT7000.
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.
Biffa plans for £15m plastics recycling plant approved
Biffa plans for £15m plastics recycling plant approved
By
Rob Cole
| 6 February 2019 |
Waste management company Biffa has received planning approval from Durham County  Council to build a new £15-million plastic recycling facility near the town of Seaham.
Used and second hand clothing
Textile collections must improve to boost clothing recycling, says WRAP
By
Kate Dickinson
| 5 February 2019 |
A new report sets out how the fashion and textiles industry can increase its use of recycled fibres and move to a more circular business model.
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.
Nigeria invests in WEEE recycling as UN highlights value in discarded electronics
Nigeria invests in WEEE recycling as UN highlights value in discarded electronics
By
Kate Dickinson
| 1 February 2019 |
A UN report published at the World Economic Forum says 250 million tonnes of e-waste could be produced annually by 2050, unless systemic change takes place to make the production of electronics more circular.
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.
Young people more likely to sell than recycle electronics, says REPIC
Young people more likely to sell than recycle electronics, says REPIC
By
Kate Dickinson
| 31 January 2019 |
Under 30s prefer to sell their old electronics rather than recycle them, a survey by WEEE compliance scheme REPIC has revealed, shining a light on knowledge gaps in WEEE reporting that could be affecting recycling rates.
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.
Some of the baled RDF stored at the site near Royston Sewage Treatment Works
Company fined over £500k for illegally storing hazardous RDF
By
Kate Dickinson
| 29 January 2019 |
Hertfordshire-based Winters Haulage Limited, based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, has been handed a £510,000 fine for illegally storing thousands of tonnes of dangerous combustible waste.
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.
Waitrose offers £1m for plastic waste reduction projects
Waitrose offers £1m for plastic waste reduction projects
By
Kate Dickinson
| 28 January 2019 |
A £1-million fund is on offer from Waitrose & Partners, with support from behaviour change charity Hubbub, for projects aiming to reduce plastic pollution.
BBC criticised for coverage of oxo-biodegradable plastics
By
Rob Cole
| 27 January 2019 |
Critics have panned the BBC’s coverage of the controversial material, which the EU is in the process of restricting, with naturalist Chris Packham failing to declare his paid position as adviser with an oxo-plastics company during a televised discussion on the material.