Plastic

Over £300,000 available for litter-fighting projects across Britain

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey has announced today (15 August) that over £300,000 is now available for community projects aiming to get tough on litter.


The first round of funding announced a year ago saw a number of councils, charities, businesses and public projects awarded almost £125,000 to take innovative steps to tackle littering in their communities.... More

EA investigates companies for shipping 1,000 tonnes of illegal waste to Poland

45 containers of waste are being sent back to the UK after being intercepted by officials, while three firms are under criminal investigation amid reports of involvement with the ‘trash mafia’.

Food and drink carton recycling pilot launched in Cornwall

Seven Household Waste Recycling Centres across Cornwall will now accept cartons and paper cups for recycling, due to a new partnership between Cornwall Council and The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and Environment.

Thames Water unveils pop-up refill points at Countryfile Live
Thames Water unveils pop-up refill points at Countryfile Live
By
Rob Cole
| 9 August 2018 |
The water company debuted its new pop-up water bottle refill stations at Blenheim Palace for BBC Countryfile Live in a bid to get people to reduce their single-use plastic waste.
WasteAid toolkit named in top three waste management publications of the year
WasteAid toolkit named in top three publications of the year
By
Rob Cole
| 7 August 2018 |
WasteAid UK and CIWM’s free online toolkit for community-led waste management has been recognised by the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) as one of the year’s top three publications.
Kraft Heinz announces aims for sustainable packaging by 2025
Kraft Heinz announces aims for sustainable packaging by 2025
By
Rob Cole
| 7 August 2018 |
The Kraft Heinz Company has announced an aim to ensure that 100 per cent of its packaging is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025 as it seeks to reduce its natural resource usage and overall environmental footprint.
Malaysia and Vietnam follow China’s lead with waste import restrictions
Malaysia and Vietnam follow China’s lead with waste import restrictions
By
Rob Cole
| 6 August 2018 |
Both countries have introduced import restrictions in response to receiving increased volumes of waste in the months since China’s ban on 24 grades of solid waste.
Veolia to recycle 120 million coffee cups in 2019
Veolia to recycle 120m coffee cups in 2019
By
Kate Dickinson
| 2 August 2018 |
The waste management company has predicted a 300 per cent rise in the number of cups collected compared to this time last year.
Compostable cups can now be composted in windrow facilities
By
Gethin Roberts
| 1 August 2018 |
The move, facilitated by compostable packaging company Vegware, means that both hot and cold certified compostable cups and lids are now allowed to be processed in any of the UK’s more than 100 windrow composting facilities
Three in four people confused about how to reduce impact of plastic
By
Gethin Roberts
| 1 August 2018 |
North London Waste Authority encourages people to ‘Wise Up To Waste’ and switch to reusable bottles, as new research shows that two-thirds of people say that they now possess one.
WRAP fact sheet explains common plastic terms
WRAP fact sheet explains common plastic terms
By
Kate Dickinson
| 31 July 2018 |
The charity has issued new guidance designed to clarify the confusion around different types of plastic packaging and how they are used.
Eunomia to lead projects on Czech deposit scheme and EU product circularity
Eunomia to lead projects on Czech deposit scheme and EU product circularity
By
Rob Cole
| 30 July 2018 |
The work portfolio of environmental consultancy firm Eunomia Research and Consulting continues to expand, with a commission to design a deposit return scheme for the Czech Republic and a new project to assess the circular economy potential of products in the EU market.
Theme parks offer incentives for recycling plastic bottles
Coca-Cola encourages plastic recycling at theme parks
By
Kate Dickinson
| 27 July 2018 |
Coca-Cola and Merlin Entertainments will be trialling 14 reverse vending machines for drinks bottles in theme parks next year.
BBC criticised for coverage of oxo-biodegradable plastics
BBC criticised for coverage of oxo-biodegradable plastics
By
Rob Cole
| 26 July 2018 |
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.
Public input wanted for Scotland’s deposit return scheme
By
Gethin Roberts
| 25 July 2018 |
Zero Waste Scotland is running a series of nationwide public engagement events giving details on potential schemes and seeking feedback from Scottish citizens. 
Six-fold increase in average fines imposed by Environment Agency
By
Gethin Roberts
| 24 July 2018 |
The average fine against a company has risen from £23,731 in 2013/14 to £147,575 in 2017/18.
Flawed monitoring leading to overestimation of UK packaging recycling, says NAO
Flawed monitoring could lead to overestimation of UK packaging recycling, says NAO
By
Rob Cole
| 23 July 2018 |
A report from the National Audit Office has called the UK’s packaging recycling rates into question, warning that fraud and error in the PRN system are not being properly monitored by Defra and the Environment Agency.
EU pressed to set mandatory recycled plastic content requirement
EU pressed to set mandatory recycled plastic content requirement
By
Kate Dickinson
| 20 July 2018 |
A coalition of 34 European organisations has called on the EU to implement a minimum requirement for recycled plastics in new products. 
China uncovers nearly 1m tonnes of illegally smuggled waste
China uncovers nearly 1m tonnes of illegally smuggled waste
By
Kate Dickinson
| 19 July 2018 |
The Chinese Government has intercepted huge amounts of waste in the first half of 2018 as its crackdown on smuggling continues. 
Viridor and Cardiff Council use picture book to educate children about marine pollution
Viridor and Cardiff Council use picture book to educate children about marine pollution
By
Gethin Roberts
| 19 July 2018 |
The two books, which are being used at 98 Cardiff primary schools, explain where everyday rubbish ends up.
Resource Association’s awards celebrate recycling achievements
By
Gethin Roberts
| 18 July 2018 |
The Quality Recognition Award winners were announced at the association’s Annual Lecture in London. 
Future of Welsh circular economy to be discussed at Cardiff seminar
By
Gethin Roberts
| 18 July 2018 |
The seminar will focus on the next steps in Wales’ Towards Zero Waste strategy.
China and EU sign memorandum of understanding on circular economy
By
Gethin Roberts
| 17 July 2018 |
The world’s two largest economies transitioning to circular economy practices could accelerate the adoption of these practices on a global scale.