Plastic

Kerbside box with plastic and cans
Councils face projected £61m annual loss of income from DRS

Local authorities in England will lose an estimated £61.4 million per year in net income once the deposit return scheme (DRS) reaches its 90 per cent return rate target, according to analysis by compliance scheme Valpak.  

aerial image of an AD plant
Environment Agency replaces quality protocols with resource frameworks

New guidance for compost, digestate and biomethane tightens plastics limits and removes market restrictions

Cover of WRAP's LA toolkit
Communication resources released for Simpler Recycling rollout

WRAP toolkit published with guidance and editable templates for local authorities implementing reforms

Natalie Fee, Founder of City to Sea presenting at the Global Reuse Summit
Sector calls for five per cent EPR fee allocation to drive reuse
By
Charles Newman
| 14 March 2025 |
Packaging stakeholders urge UK government to match French model in funding transition from single-use options
Reverse vending machine on Strathclyde campus
Reverse vending machines tested at University of Strathclyde
By
Beth Jones
| 6 March 2025 |
Study by Keep Scotland Beautiful suggests more pilot studies are needed to determine effective incentives for RVMs in preparation for DRS regulation
EMERGE bin truck
Low-density polyethylene recycling pilot launched in Manchester
By
Beth Jones
| 5 March 2025 |
Duo UK and EMERGE Recycling are collaborating to recycle LDPE film collected from local businesses into ecommerce mailing bags
Takeaway packaging
Workplace recycling significantly below at-home habits
By
Beth Jones
| 18 February 2025 |
Biffa survey shows widespread uncertainty about recyclable materials ahead of mandatory business waste separation rules
Shotton Paper Mill before conversation to Cardboard processing
Mind the gap: Investment in recycling infrastructure needed to fulfil current policies
By
Beth Jones
| 12 February 2025 |
WRAP and Defra analysis highlights gaps in processing capacity across key material streams to meet demand from packaging reforms
Blister packs being deposited in Boots return box
Boots expands blister pack recycling scheme to 800 UK stores
By
Beth Jones
| 12 February 2025 |
Partnership with MYGroup follows successful pilot to allow customers to recycle complex mixed material
Fruit and veg in plastic bags
Cutting single-use plastic in shops emerges as top public priority
By
Beth Jones
| 12 February 2025 |
Hubbub study urges businesses and government to help households adopt sustainable living by providing clearer information and financial support
Beef mince in plastic packaging, surrounded by ingredients
Tesco pilots recycled PET food trays initiative
By
Beth Jones
| 6 February 2025 |
Klöckner Pentaplast partners with Tesco and Hilton Foods to launch recycled packaging initiative
Hand loom
MYGroup launches Sri Lankan plastic recycling hub
By
Beth Jones
| 5 February 2025 |
New coastal facility will process marine plastic while supporting sustainable textile production
Microplastics © Oregon State University (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Rising microplastic levels in brain tissues raises health concerns
By
Beth Jones
| 5 February 2025 |
Research reveals 50 per cent rise in plastic concentrations between 2016-2024, highlighting escalating environmental exposure
Stéphane Leroux, Executive Director International Food Waste Coalition (IFWC), WRAP CEO Harriet Lamb, Director of Impact Growth WRAP Dr Richard Swannell and Didier Sandoz, President IFWC.
WRAP EU launches to tackle food waste in hospitality
By
Beth Jones
| 29 January 2025 |
WRAP and IFWC partner to address broken food systems and promote sustainable consumption across Europe
rPET bottles
Enzyme research offers solution for PET plastic recycling
By
Beth Jones
| 28 January 2025 |
Kyungpook National University researchers discover new biocatalyst that can break down PET under industrial conditions
Boy putting a bottle into a reverse vending machine
Government sets out operational framework for 2027 Deposit Return Scheme
By
Charles Newman
| 27 January 2025 |
Applications for scheme administrator close next week, as guidance sets out detailed implementation plans for retailers, hospitality venues and collection points
Pact Network Connect delegates at Mexico event in front of food waste
Food and plastics networks unite in global effort to cut waste
By
Charles Newman
| 24 January 2025 |
Representatives from 15 countries gather in Mexico to accelerate action on food and plastic waste reduction
Plastic bottle placed in a reverse vending machine
Deposit return scheme passes in Parliament
By
Beth Jones
| 22 January 2025 |
New legislation for England and Northern Ireland will require consumers to pay deposits on drinks containers from October 2027
microplastics
PFAS cleanup could cost Europe up to €2 Trillion
By
Beth Jones
| 14 January 2025 |
Le Monde reveals that widespread PFAS contamination could result in staggering economic costs, compounding the environmental and health burdens of plastic pollution
Managing mixed plastics
Framework developed for basic mechanical recycling of mixed plastic
By
Beth Jones
| 9 January 2025 |
Alliance to End Plastic Waste guide identifies methods and supporting processes to create marketable products from problematic waste streams
Plastic waste in Thailnad
Thailand bans all plastic waste imports
By
Beth Jones
| 8 January 2025 |
Restrictions begin in January 2025, addressing rising imports and waste trafficking as part of plastic waste reduction plan
Plastic bottles in production
Plastics industry calls for stricter European rules on imports
By
Beth Jones
| 19 December 2024 |
Producers are urging EU policymakers to support domestic market for recycling as Europe’s share of global production falls
Flexible Plastic Collection
UK councils face unprecedented plastic collection expansion by 2027
By
Charles Newman
| 17 December 2024 |
RECOUP survey reveals 312 councils must add film and flexible plastic collections within two years if current Government requirement is to be met