Reduction

Fashion producers should pay a penny per item to fund waste collection, say MPs
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

A disposable coffee cup in a bin
Businesses join forces to tackle Scotland’s coffee cup waste

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.

Bricks and wood waste at a construction site
ZWS launches initiative to reduce construction waste

Zero Waste Scotland and Construction Scotland Innovation Centre have teamed up to tackle the huge amounts of waste coming from the construction industry.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Countries need to become circular to avoid climate change, says report
By
Kate Dickinson
| 22 January 2019 |
The Global Circularity Gap Report 2019 states that only nine per cent of the world’s natural resources are being reused – and governments must drive changes in unsustainable patterns of consumption to avoid global warming.
ADBA urges government Food Waste Champion not to neglect recycling
ADBA urges government Food Waste Champion not to neglect recycling
By
Rob Cole
| 10 January 2019 |
The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) has written to the government’s new Food Surplus and Waste Champion to urge him not to overlook the recycling of inedible food waste.
Cover of 'Turning the Tide on Plastic' by Lucy Siegle
Review: Turning the Tide on Plastic
By
Andy Moore
| 10 January 2019 |
Andy Moore finds a lot to recommend in the new book by Lucy Siegle, ‘Turning the Tide on Plastic’.
South Korea latest country to ban single-use plastic bags
South Korea latest country to ban single-use plastic bags
By
Kate Dickinson
| 3 January 2019 |
The South Korean Government has banned single-use plastic bags, with potential fines of over £2,000 for businesses that do not comply with the new rules.
Cosmetics: A beautiful waste
Cosmetics: A beautiful waste
By
Kate Dickinson
| 3 January 2019 |
The use of cosmetics has become an indelible part of our everyday routines, and so too has the waste that comes with it. Just what is the extent of the beauty industry’s throwaway culture and can it be changed? Kate Dickinson investigates.
What can you recycle at Christmas?
What can you recycle at Christmas?
By Resource |
20 December 2018 |
Every year we throw away millions of tonnes of wrapping paper, decorations, food and other debris left over from the Christmas festivities. If you’re struggling to know what to do with your waste, check out Resource’s short recycling guide.
It’s time to vote for your Legends of Waste in this year’s Hot 100!
It’s time to vote for your Legends of Waste in this year’s Hot 100!
By
Rob Cole
| 20 December 2018 |
Who across the waste and resources world has done enough to etch their name into the pantheon of greats as this year’s Legend of Waste? You can tell us now by voting in this year’s Hot 100.
What should you do with plastic bottle caps?
What should you do with plastic bottle caps?
By
Kate Nicholson
| 19 December 2018 |
Bottle caps, lids and tops: the small and unassuming components of the plastic bottle which, after years of contradictory advice over their recyclability, has left many UK consumers confused. So just how can we dispose of our bottle caps responsibly?
Industry welcomes ‘bold and radical’ Resources and Waste Strategy
Industry welcomes ‘bold and radical’ Resources and Waste Strategy
By
Rob Cole
| 18 December 2018 |
Key stakeholders have largely welcomed the publication of the Resources and Waste Strategy by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), calling it a “blueprint for the future” and “bold and radical”, though some reservations remain.
Ribena announces new sustainability measures
Ribena announces new sustainability measures
By
Kate Nicholson
| 18 December 2018 |
After 10 years of ensuring its plastic bottles are made completely from recycled plastic, the drinks company Ribena has announced further plans to improve its sustainability.
Resources and Waste Strategy outlines government’s circular ambitions
Resources and Waste Strategy outlines government’s circular ambitions
By
Rob Cole
| 18 December 2018 |
Plans to introduce separate food waste collections to every household in England by 2023 and ensure producers pay for the costs of managing their waste packaging have been included in the long-awaited Resources and Waste Strategy.
SEPA plans to make Scotland’s metal sector go circular
SEPA plans to make Scotland’s metal sector go circular
By
Kate Nicholson
| 12 December 2018 |
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has devised a new sector plan to make Scotland’s metal sector part of the nation’s emerging circular economy.