Resource Use

The Insider: So much for quality
Recycling
The Insider: So much for quality

The Chinese ban on low-quality secondary materials seems to have gone off with more of a whimper than a bang in UK markets, at least for the moment. Global outlets prepared to pick up low-quality material at bargain basement prices have averted crisis and relieved pressure on UK recycling systems.


Industry commentators, your writer amongst them, had forecast dire consequences with stockpiling of unsaleable material, a spate of fires, littering, fly tipping, fractured relationships and... More

An eye on the markets: Canned heat
Recycling
An eye on the markets: Canned heat

Rick Hindley, Executive Director of Alupro, examines the drivers behind the continued upward trend in aluminium recycling.

Wales: Leading the recycling world?
Recycling
Wales: Leading the recycling world?

Gerry Gillespie, Board Member of the Zero Waste International Trust, examines the steps Wales has taken to reach its current position in the recycling league tables – and how it might continue to drive recycling higher.

Carbon Index 2018: Welsh councils come out on top for carbon reduction
Carbon Index 2018: Welsh councils come out on top for carbon reductionnew
By
Simon Hann
| 13 hours ago |
Simon Hann presents summary findings from Eunomia’s sixth annual Local Authority Recycling Carbon Index, highlighting the contribution of councils’ recycling services towards mitigating climate change.
Paying for it: How to fund local authority waste and recycling services in the next decade
Paying for it: How to fund local authority waste and recycling services in the next decadenew
By
Rob Cole
| 13 hours ago |
With purse strings continually drawn tighter, council services are increasingly stretched. Rob Cole looks into how the UK might fund the comprehensive waste and recycling services needed to meet higher targets in the 2020s.
Packaging compliance schemes team up to talk reform
Packaging compliance schemes team up to talk reformnew
By
Kate Dickinson
| 14 hours ago |
A new group, the Packaging Scheme Forum, has been launched to facilitate discussion between industry and government on the issue of producer responsibility reform.
New plan for plastics recycling from Veolia and RECOUP
New plan for plastics recycling from Veolia and RECOUPnew
By
Kate Dickinson
| 19 hours ago |
A new report by Veolia and RECOUP reveals that consumers want to see more recycled content in plastic products – and could be willing to pay extra for it.
Compostable products to replace plastic in Parliament
Compostable products to replace plastic in Parliament
By
Kate Dickinson
| 20 September 2018 |
The UK Parliament has announced it will be using compostable Vegware products across its estate from October 2018.
Microplastics now spread even further by flying insects
Microplastics now spread even further by flying insects
By
Kate Nicholson
| 19 September 2018 |
For the first time, insects have been found to retain microplastics when transforming from aquatic larvae into flying adults, enabling previously unexposed creatures and environments to become polluted.
Hubbub urges East Anglia to get savvy about food waste
Hubbub urges East Anglia to get savvy about food waste
By
Kate Nicholson
| 19 September 2018 |
Environmental charity Hubbub is running a new campaign, #FoodSavvy, to help residents in East Anglia reduce food waste, as the average UK family wastes £810 of edible food per year.
WEEE: A burning issue
WEEE: A burning issue
By
Justin Greenaway
| 18 September 2018 |
Justin Greenaway, Commercial Manager at SWEEEP Kuusakoski, discusses the future of WEEE recycling in the UK.
Maintaining momentum: Interview with Hannah Blythyn
Maintaining momentum: Interview with Hannah Blythyn
By
Resource
| 18 September 2018 |
With Wales being recognised worldwide for its strong record on waste and recycling, Resource caught up with Environment Minister Hannah Blythyn to find out more about her goal to get Wales to the top. 
New SUEZ EfW plant planned for Teesside
New SUEZ EfW plant planned for Teesside
By
Kate Dickinson
| 18 September 2018 |
A new energy-from-waste facility is in the works for the North East and Scotland, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK has announced.
World’s first used-plastic bicycle path launched in the Netherlands
World’s first used-plastic bicycle path launched in the Netherlands
By
Kate Nicholson
| 18 September 2018 |
Dutch cyclists are using the world’s first bicycle path made of 100 per cent reused plastic, in an attempt to reduce plastic pollution.
Setting the trend: Milan's recycling success
Setting the trend: Milan's recycling success
By
Kate Dickinson
| 18 September 2018 |
Milan may be the fashion capital of the world, but the Italian city has more than one string to its bow, boasting one of the highest recycling rates in Europe – and an organic waste collection available to all. Kate Dickinson asks if the Milan model could set a trend for UK cities to follow
Waitrose to eliminate single-use plastic bags by spring 2019
Waitrose to eliminate single-use plastic bags by spring 2019
By
Kate Dickinson
| 17 September 2018 |
Supermarket chain Waitrose has announced plans to replace single-use plastics bags in all its stores with reusable or biodegradable alternatives.
Five of the best new products at RWM 2018
Five of the best new products at RWM 2018
By
Resource
| 14 September 2018 |
RWM 2018 saw two days of exhibits and talks displaying some of the latest innovations in the waste and resources sector. Here are five of the best new products that piqued our interest.
Car battery recycling: Staying in charge
Car battery recycling: Staying in charge
By
Giles Kirkland
| 14 September 2018 |
Giles Kirkland examines what the changing automotive industry means for car battery recycling in the UK.
SUEZ outlines key principles for effective UK EPR regime
SUEZ outlines key principles for effective UK EPR regime
By
Rob Cole
| 14 September 2018 |
Waste management company SUEZ recycling and recovery UK has released a report detailing 10 fundamental principles for an effective extended producer responsibility regime for the UK.
Ecosurety and Recycling Technologies announce deal to roll out new plastic waste technology
Ecosurety and Recycling Technologies announce deal to roll out new plastic waste technology
By
Rob Cole
| 13 September 2018 |
UK compliance scheme Ecosurety has announced a new deal with plastic waste chemical recycling specialists Recycling Technologies, which it hopes will accelerate the commercial roll-out of an innovative technology to improve the scope and capacity of plastic recycling in the UK.
The Ocean Cleanup project begins final deployment
The Ocean Cleanup project begins final deployment
By
Kate Nicholson
| 13 September 2018 |
The Ocean Cleanup, after five years of research and testing, has launched its marine plastic extraction system in an attempt to cleanse the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Plastic-free aisle to appear at London international packaging conference
Plastic-free aisle to appear at London international packaging conference
By
Rob Cole
| 13 September 2018 |
A plastic-free aisle will be recreated at the Packaging Innovations 2018 conference in London today in a bid to encourage further reductions in plastic packaging in retail.
‘Work to be done’ to modernise CIWM
‘Work to be done’ to modernise CIWM
By
Rob Cole
| 11 September 2018 |
CIWM has sought to provide reassurance over the institute’s financial health and restructuring process, though outgoing CEO Dr Colin Church concedes that there is still “work to be done”.