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£61-million Commonwealth fund to tackle plastic pollution
£61-million Commonwealth fund to tackle plastic pollution

China launches latest customs crackdown on ‘smuggling of foreign rubbish’
China launches latest customs crackdown on ‘smuggling of foreign rubbish’

China has announced the launch of a new customs crackdown on the smuggling of foreign waste, entitled ‘Blue Sky 2018’, which will run from March to December 2018.

Shipbreaking bad: Inside the murky world of ship recycling
Shipbreaking bad: Inside the murky world of ship recycling

Unregulated ship recycling in South Asia is killing dozens of workers a year, with European ships flouting safe disposal laws through loopholes. Sid Hayns-Worthington takes a look at the murky world of shipbreaking

California fights to tether caps to plastic bottles
California fights to tether caps to plastic bottles
By
Kate Dickinson
| 20 February 2018 |
Proposals to tackle plastic waste in California are being approved by the Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee but coming under attack from industry lobbyists.
Contamination in the USA
Contamination in the USA
By
Gareth Morton
| 20 February 2018 |
In the wake of China’s tighter import standards for recycling, the problem of contamination has been thrown into the spotlight. Gareth Morton discusses what the US is doing to tackle the issue – and what the UK can learn.
Mozambique landfill landslide kills seventeen
Mozambique landfill landslide kills seventeen
By
Rob Cole
| 19 February 2018 |
At least 17 people have been killed in Mozambique this week after heavy rains caused a 15-metre high pile of rubbish to partially collapse at a rubbish dump in Mozambique.
Nine people killed in China waste blaze
Nine people killed in China waste blaze
By
Edward Perchard
| 19 February 2018 |
Nine people have been killed by a fire at a waste processing plant in China, with authorities believing the blaze was started by fireworks residue.
Hot 100 2018: Who are the leaders of the pack?
Hot 100 2018: Who is leading the pack?
By Resource |
6 February 2018 |
Our annual power list of movers and shakers in the waste and resources industry attracted a record number of votes this year. Here, you’ll find the winners from 100 to one, each accompanied by a voter’s glowing review. Read on to discover who has played their cards right and proved to be our Top Trump for 2018  
Minister plays down fears over China stockpiling
Minister plays down fears over China stockpiling
By
Edward Perchard
| 31 January 2018 |
Resources Minister Therese Coffey says that she ‘challenges the view’ that the Chinese ban on waste imports presents a crisis for the UK, but suggested that dramatic rules on packaging could be on the way.
Multinational firms sign up to $1.3 trillion circular economy initiative
Multinational firms sign up to $1.3 trillion circular economy initiative
By
Kate Dickinson
| 31 January 2018 |
The Factor10 initiative from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, aiming to implement the circular economy across the world, has been launched at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, with signatories from over 30 international companies.
Only nine percent of the world economy is ‘circular’, claims Global Circularity Report
Only nine percent of the world economy is ‘circular’, claims Global Circularity Report
By
Kate Dickinson
| 26 January 2018 |
With the release of the Global Circularity Report claiming only nine per cent of the world’s resources are cycled back into the economy after use, the circular economy is front and centre at this year’s World Economic Forum Annual Meeting.
EAC launches special inquiry into effects of China waste ban
EAC launches special inquiry into effects of China waste ban
By
Kate Dickinson
| 15 January 2018 |
With China’s ban on 24 types of plastic and paper waste in place from 1 January, and measures set to get stricter, the Environmental Audit Committee is calling for evidence on whether the UK is prepared for the impact.
How the UK recycling industry has been preparing for the China waste ban
How the UK recycling industry has been preparing for the China waste ban
By
Rob Cole
| 9 January 2018 |
China’s ban on the import 24 grades of solid waste has been known to the UK recycling industry since July of last year, so how have the major companies been preparing for the disruptive new policy?
Bold leadership from government needed on plastics in wake of China waste materials ban
Bold government leadership needed on plastics in wake of China waste ban
By
Rob Cole
| 5 January 2018 |
The UK Government must take the lead in creating domestic secondary markets for recyclable plastic waste as China places bans the import of 24 grades of solid waste, says the Resource Association.
UK recycling industry braced for impact as Chinese crackdown begins
UK recycling industry braced for impact as Chinese crackdown begins
By
Rob Cole
| 3 January 2018 |
Chinese restrictions on imports of 24 grades of solid waste were adopted on Monday and are set to cause significant discomfort in the UK recycling sector, with the Recycling Association saying that stockpiled plastics are already building up in members’ yards.
Can the circular economy transform developing countries?
Can the circular economy transform developing countries?
By
Rob Cole
| 15 December 2017 |
International affairs think tank Chatham House is seeking to build an evidence base for circular economy opportunities in developing countries, and whether they could help such nations ‘leapfrog’ to more sustainable development pathways.
350k tonnes of UK plastic waste to go unrecycled as a result of China ban
Estimated 350k tonnes of UK plastic waste could go unrecycled as a result of China ban
By
Rob Cole
| 15 December 2017 |
UK-based Vanden Recycling has calculated that alternative destinations for waste exports will not be able to make up the shortfall in capacity resulting from China’s plan to ban waste imports in 2018.
China could introduce further waste material restrictions by 2019
China could introduce further waste material restrictions by 2019
By
Rob Cole
| 12 December 2017 |
China is eyeing further restrictions on waste imports in the coming years beyond those set to come into force from the start of 2018, according to a new paper released by an advisory body including China’s Vice Premier and Environmental Protection Minister.
Adjusted recycling rates reveal top recycling nations recycling far less than reported
Adjusted recycling rates reveal top recycling nations recycling far less than reported
By
Rob Cole
| 11 December 2017 |
Leading recycling nations may be overstating their recycling figures, with adjusted figures released by Eunomia revealing that the top countries are recycling over 10 per cent less than reported.
MPs urge Education Secretary to include Sustainable Development Goals in curriculum
MPs urge Education Secretary to include Sustainable Development Goals in curriculum
By
Rob Cole
| 8 December 2017 |
EAC Chair Mary Creagh has written to Education Secretary Justine Greening urging her to include the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the National Curriculum.
Debate over residual waste infrastructure continues as ESA compares arguments
Residual waste infrastructure: Heated debate continues as ESA weighs up differing arguments
By
Edward Perchard
| 30 November 2017 |
The argument over the future of the UK’s residual waste treatment capacity has reopened today, after the ESA published a review of previous reports and reiterated the prediction that six million tonnes of residual waste will have nowhere to go in the UK by 2030.
It’s time to vote for this year’s Resource Hot 100
It’s time to vote for this year’s Resource Hot 100!
By
Edward Perchard
| 22 November 2017 |
Voting for this year’s Resource Hot 100 is now open. This is your chance to vote for the waste and resources industry’s biggest influencers.
Increased China 0.5 per cent contamination limit a ‘very challenging target’
Increased China 0.5 per cent contamination limit a ‘very challenging target’
By
Rob Cole
| 21 November 2017 |
China has raised the contamination limit on waste imports to 0.5 per cent, still some way below the current 1.5 per cent limit.