Organics

EU member states give circular economy package seal of approval
EU member states give circular economy package seal of approval

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 (22 May).

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

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.

UK food waste figures restated to fit international standard
UK food waste figures restated to fit international standard

The UK’s food waste data, setting out how much food is consumed, recycled and wasted across the country, has been restated by WRAP using new international standards of measurement, resulting in a reduction in the figure for overall household food waste.

Morrisons food waste figures reveal 11k tonnes of unnecessary waste
Morrisons food waste figures reveal 11k tonnes of unnecessary waste
By
Rob Cole
| 18 May 2018 |
UK supermarket chain Morrisons has published its food waste figures for the first time, revealing that 11,000 tonnes of food went to waste from its stores in 2017/18, while its food waste reduction schemes go from strength to strength.
The art of three weekly
By
Kate Dickinson
| 16 May 2018 |
As Wales leads the way in extending residual waste collections, Kate Dickinson learns how Powys went about introducing three weekly collections back in 2015 and how the council has fared.
Cromwell Polythene helping councils boost organic recycling rates
Cromwell Polythene helping councils boost organic recycling rates
By
James Lee
| 15 May 2018 |
James Lee, Managing Director of Cromwell Polythene, explores the simple steps that can be taken to reduce food waste.
Community Fridge Network to double number of fridges in six months
Community Fridge Network to double number of fridges in six months
By
Gethin Roberts
| 15 May 2018 |
The Morrisons Foundation adds £45,000 of funding to expand current network of community fridges by November.
Derry hands out free compost to celebrate International Compost Awareness Week
Free compost handed out to celebrate International Compost Awareness Week
By
Kate Dickinson
| 9 May 2018 |
International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), now in its 24th year, is a comprehensive educational initiative by the worldwide compost industry to raise awareness of the benefits of organics recycling.
Sainsbury’s drops food waste reduction campaign
Sainsbury’s drops food waste reduction campaign
By
Rob Cole
| 9 May 2018 |
The supermarket giant has allegedly dropped its ‘Waste Less, Save More’ food waste reduction initiative after its trial in the town of Swadlincote produced poor results, claiming its ‘customers’ priorities had changed’.
Innovative bio-based materials up for award
Innovative bio-based materials up for award
By
Kate Dickinson
| 3 May 2018 |
Six innovative bio-based products using materials including cellulose, soy beans and watermelon sugars are on the shortlist for the 2018 Bio-based Material of the Year award.
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.  
Wetherspoon to divert all waste from landfill by the end of 2018
JD Wetherspoon to divert all waste from landfill by the end of 2018
By
Gethin Roberts
| 1 May 2018 |
JD Wetherspoon contracts waste management company Veolia as it seeks to divert 11,500 tonnes of food waste from landfill per year.
Compostable alternative to plastic packaging uses wool as insulation
Compostable alternative to plastic packaging uses wool as insulation
By
Kate Dickinson
| 1 May 2018 |
Woolcool is a packaging innovation for the transport of temperature-sensitive items from the food and pharmaceutical sectors, using wool in place of polystyrene, bubble wrap, gel packs or other non-recyclable insulating materials. 
FareShare calls for £15m from government to redistribute food
By
Kate Dickinson
| 29 April 2018 |
A new campaign by food redistribution charity FareShare wants the government to set up a £15 million fund to cover the costs of getting surplus food to those in need.
Advetec targets plastic digestion with £600k of R&D investment
By
Advetec
| 29 April 2018 |
Organic waste treatment specialist Advetec has announced it will be investing £600,000 in new laboratories and staff in order to expand its operations and target the digestion of plastic waste.
New Hubbub campaign to target restaurant food waste
By
Rob Cole
| 27 April 2018 |
Behaviour change specialist Hubbub has launched a new partnership with Compass Group UK & Ireland and commercial kitchen food waste app Winnow to reduce the amount of food thrown away in corporate and university restaurants.
Applications open for 2018 Green Alley Award
By
Rob Cole
| 23 April 2018 |
The European award for circular economy startups and innovators has launched a call for applications for this year’s competition ahead of October’s Berlin final.
European Parliament votes through Circular Economy Package
By
Rob Cole
| 18 April 2018 |
One of the final hurdles in ratifying new European circular economy legislation has been cleared as the European Parliament votes through the Circular Economy Package, fixing a 65 per cent recycling target for 2035. 
Veolia launches online organic waste marketplace
By
Rob Cole
| 16 April 2018 |
Waste management company Veolia has launched a new BioTrading website allowing businesses access to an online marketplace to buy and sell organics resources.
Plastic packaging not preventing food waste, says FoE
By
Kate Dickinson
| 12 April 2018 |
A new report from Friends of the Earth Europe and Zero Waste Europe argues that food packaging is not helping to prevent food waste and could in fact be creating more.
New Dutch group says collaboration is key to fighting food waste
New Dutch group says collaboration is key to fighting food waste
By
Kate Dickinson
| 27 March 2018 |
A new Dutch collective with members from across industry, academia and government has been set up to help the country cut its food waste in half by 2030 in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 
New Dutch group says collaboration is key to fighting food waste
By
Kate Dickinson
| 27 March 2018 |
A new Dutch collective with members from across industry, academia and government has been set up to help the country cut its food waste in half by 2030 in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 
New EA charging regime to start in April
New EA charging regime to start in April
By
Rob Cole
| 22 March 2018 |
Changes to the Environment Agency’s charging and permits regime will come into force on 1 April despite industry concerns that this is too soon for businesses to prepare.