UK Central Government

The Insider: So much for quality
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

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 decade

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 reform

A new group, the Packaging Scheme Forum, has been launched to facilitate discussion between industry and government on the issue of producer responsibility reform.

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.
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.
Two men face charges for multiple waste crimes
Two men face charges for multiple waste crimes
By
Kate Dickinson
| 4 September 2018 |
Charges have been brought against two men in Swansea for ‘several years’ worth of illegal activities likely to cause harm to the environment and human health.
Plastic bag charge could increase to 10 pence
Plastic bag charge could increase to 10 pence
By
Rob Cole
| 31 August 2018 |
Prime Minister Theresa May has announced that the government will consider making the plastic bag charge mandatory for all businesses and raising it to 10 pence.
London pledges to reduce landfill waste by 50 per cent by 2030
London pledges to reduce landfill waste by 50 per cent by 2030
By
Kate Nicholson
| 28 August 2018 |
London joins 23 cities in pledge to cut waste sent to landfill by 50 per cent and waste per capita by 15 per cent by 2030.
ZWS announces next public engagement events on deposit return
ZWS announces next public engagement events on deposit return
By
Kate Nicholson
| 28 August 2018 |
Zero Waste Scotland announced a new set of dates and venues last week for the public to voice their opinions on a national deposit scheme for bottles and cans.
ESA report calls for ‘smarter’ recycling measures
ESA report calls for ‘smarter’ recycling measures
By
Rob Cole
| 22 August 2018 |
The Environmental Services Association has called for ‘smarter’ measures of recycling progress to replace the current weight-based metrics in a new report released on Monday (20 August).
Unprecedented public support for tax on plastics following Treasury consultation
Unprecedented public support for plastics tax after Treasury consultation
By
Rob Cole
| 20 August 2018 |
HM Treasury has revealed that its call for evidence on how the tax system could be used to reduce plastic waste has received overwhelming public support from individuals, businesses and campaign groups alike.
£12m spent unblocking sanitary products from London’s sewers every year
£12m spent unblocking sanitary products from London’s sewers every year
By
Kate Dickinson
| 17 August 2018 |
A new report from the London Assembly Environment Committee shines a light on the damage caused by ‘unflushables’
Over £300,000 available for litter-fighting projects across Britain
By
Gethin Roberts
| 15 August 2018 |
This second round of funding builds on the government’s Litter Strategy for England and seeks innovative solutions to tackle littering.
EA investigates companies for shipping 1,000 tonnes of illegal waste to Poland
By
Gethin Roberts
| 15 August 2018 |
45 containers of waste are being sent back to the UK after being intercepted by officials, while three firms are under criminal investigation amid reports of involvement with the ‘trash mafia’.
Industry group calls for tougher regulation to prevent waste crime
Industry group calls for tougher regulation to prevent waste crime
By
Kate Dickinson
| 8 August 2018 |
The group, made up of representatives from the ESA, CIWM and UROC, has set out its recommendations for the government in advance of the publication of its Resources and Waste Strategy.
Waitrose to run HGV fleet on biomethane
Waitrose to run HGV fleet on biomethane
By
Kate Dickinson
| 30 July 2018 |
Waitrose and John Lewis will be running trucks on renewable fuels this autumn as part of an OLEV-funded trial to see how using biomethane compressed natural gas can help to cut the UK’s transport emissions.
The committee has added that the EEAO would need to be overseen by Parliament, reporting on a bi-annual basis, to ensure it remains independent. During its inquiry, the EAC heard from respondents, including Lord Deben, who warned of a history of environmental watchdogs (such as the Environmental Agency and Natural England) “being brought more and more under the control [of the Department]”. Creagh also warned that the government has “more experience of getting rid of environmental watchdogs than of setting
MPs call for ‘world-leading’ UK environmental watchdog
By
Kate Dickinson
| 24 July 2018 |
MPs in the Environmental Audit Committee say the oversight body should have legal powers to hold the government to account on the goals set out in its 25 Year Environment Plan. 
Six-fold increase in average fines imposed by Environment Agency
By
Gethin Roberts
| 24 July 2018 |
The average fine against a company has risen from £23,731 in 2013/14 to £147,575 in 2017/18.
Flawed monitoring leading to overestimation of UK packaging recycling, says NAO
Flawed monitoring could lead to overestimation of UK packaging recycling, says NAO
By
Rob Cole
| 23 July 2018 |
A report from the National Audit Office has called the UK’s packaging recycling rates into question, warning that fraud and error in the PRN system are not being properly monitored by Defra and the Environment Agency.
Greens warn incineration will overtake recycling by 2020
Greens warn incineration will overtake recycling by 2020
By
Kate Dickinson
| 18 July 2018 |
A new report from the Green Party states that incineration could outstrip recycling in England in under two years if measures are not taken to curb the burning of waste.
Future of Welsh circular economy to be discussed at Cardiff seminar
By
Gethin Roberts
| 18 July 2018 |
The seminar will focus on the next steps in Wales’ Towards Zero Waste strategy.
Environment Agency warns of illegal waste dumping trend
By
Gethin Roberts
| 18 July 2018 |
The regulator has called for vigilance amongst landlords as criminals are renting properties in order to dispose of illegal waste.