Devolved Governments

Person preparing food with scraps put in a food waste caddy
Household food waste a major contributor to biodiversity loss

Household food waste has emerged as the most significant contributor to biodiversity loss and land use change in Scotland, according to new research published by Zero Waste Scotland, the circular economy public body.

Gillian Martin, Iain Gulland, Dominic Fry at pioneering biotech start-up, MiAlgae
Scotland circular economy worth £7.1bn and 81,000 jobs study shows

State of the Circular Economy report reveals 'significant and thriving' economic landscape

John Bason, Chair of UK DMO
UK DMO appoints John Bason as chair for DRS rollout

Former Associated British Foods finance director and FareShare chair selected to lead scheme administrator for England, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Huw Irranca-Davies holding a glass bottle
Wales launches reuse-focused deposit return scheme consultation
By
Charles Newman
| 19 August 2025 |
Stakeholders asked for views on proposed reuse targets for 2031-2040 and phased glass inclusion with zero deposit transition approach
Scotland aims to tackle lack of processing capacity for plastics, metals and batteries
By
Olivia Loughran
| 12 August 2025 |
Government's Waste Reprocessing Infrastructure Report highlights 98.7 per cent per cent of resources used in Scotland are not cycled back into the economy  
Wet wipe
Defra announce draft regulations to enforce wet wipe ban in England
By
Olivia Loughran
| 30 July 2025 |
New rules propose a £200 fine for businesses selling wet wipes containing plastic
Iain Gulland
Iain Gulland to step down as Zero Waste Scotland CEO
By
Charles Newman
| 24 July 2025 |
Founding chief executive will leave after 11 years leading Scotland's circular economy transition
UK makes interim waste ETS monitoring voluntary while seeking LA cost solutions
By
Charles Newman
| 22 July 2025 |
Carbon allowance obligations delayed as government hints at postponing EfW inclusion beyond 2028
Reverse vending machine for deposit return
Wales brings forward deposit return scheme to 2027
By Resource |
11 July 2025 |
Government announces alignment with UK timetable whilst maintaining glass and reuse provisions
Food waste caddy
Food waste figures a "wakeup call" for sector’s carbon ambitions
By Resource |
2 July 2025 |
Latest data shows six million tonnes wasted annually despite nine per cent reduction from 2021
Blue 240l bins on a street
Scotland's Recycling Improvement Fund delivers 4,668 tonnes additional recycling in 2023
By Resource |
1 July 2025 |
Zero Waste Scotland evaluation finds fund projects achieved 61 per cent of annual targets in first year
Kerbside collection vehicle in Wales
Welsh Government mandates 3-weekly residual collections
By Resource |
19 June 2025 |
Updated Collections Blueprint 2025 requires ultra-low emission vehicles and enhanced kerbside separation, as new plan maps path to achieve 70 per cent recycling target
Excavation digger manages construction waste
Scotland to pioneer circular construction hub model targeting £67 million investment
By
Charles Newman
| 2 June 2025 |
Zero Waste Scotland part of European pilot project to develop marketplace for reused building materials
Wales Deposit Scheme timeline
Welsh Government to launch consultation on Wales DRS in May
By
Beth Jones
| 18 February 2025 |
Welsh Government releases timeline for stakeholder engagement and formal consultation following withdrawal from UK-wide system
Two workers looking at clipboard
Digital waste tracking delayed until April 2026
By
Beth Jones
| 6 February 2025 |
UK Government pushes back mandatory digital waste reporting system for all four nations, following industry feedback about implementation challenges
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
Scottish Parliament
Scottish Government sets out vision for circular economy transition to 2030
By
Charles Newman
| 20 December 2024 |
New roadmap outlines priority actions across waste reduction, recycling modernisation, and disposal to deliver circular economy legislation
Single use cups ina bin
Government scraps mandatory cup takeback scheme for retailers
By Resource |
6 December 2024 |
Defra cites £52 million cost and limited environmental impact as reasons for policy reversal
©Photo by Albert Bridge, CC BY-SA 2.0
Northern Ireland’s recycling rate hits 50.5 per cent in 2023/24
By
Beth Jones
| 29 November 2024 |
Country makes significant progress in sustainably managing waste despite not having a functioning political government for most of the year
Plastic bottle placed in a reverse vending machine
Trade bodies call for deposit scheme pause after Welsh withdrawal
By
Charles Newman
| 22 November 2024 |
NAWDO, LARAC and The Recycling Association urge government to reconsider DRS plans following Wales's exit from UK-wide system
Glas bottles on a conveyor belt in production
Wales to develop separate deposit return scheme to protect recycling progress
By Resource |
18 November 2024 |
Deputy First Minister confirms nation will exit UK-wide DRS process over Internal Market Act constraints
Outside Scottish Parliament
Scottish Government estimates £951m cost for packaging EPR reform
By
Beth Jones
| 15 November 2024 |
Impact assessment outlines costs and environmental benefits of incoming extended producer responsibility system
Young man examining interior of renewable equipment part
ZWS launches plan to tackle Scotland's overconsumption crisis
By
Beth Jones
| 8 November 2024 |
Zero Waste Scotland's Corporate Plan 2024-2030 aims to rewire economy which currently consumes resources at three times sustainable levels