UK Central Government

New research shows vast extent of fly-tipping
New research shows vast extent of fly-tipping

New research from The Furniture Recycling Group (TFR Group) has revealed that 646,039 fly-tipping incidents were recorded in just five cities since 2013.


TFR Group’s findings show that Liverpool is the worst-offending city per person, with 74,909 incidents recorded since 2013, while Leicester and Sheffield placed second and third respectively, with data showing that one in 13 people (nine per cent) in each city have fly-tipped waste over the last five years.

Volunteers with food redistribution charity Fareshare
Defra opens £5m food redistribution fund

The first round of government funding has opened for food redistribution organisations across the UK.

ADBA urges government Food Waste Champion not to neglect recycling
ADBA urges government Food Waste Champion not to neglect recycling

The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) has written to the government’s new Food Surplus and Waste Champion to urge him not to overlook the recycling of inedible food waste.

Staniforth promoted to Head of Policy at Ecosurety
Staniforth promoted to Head of Policy at Ecosurety
By
Rob Cole
| 9 January 2019 |
Compliance scheme Ecosurety’s Policy Manager, Robbie Staniforth, has been promoted to the newly created role of Head of Policy, providing in-depth policy and market insight.
Householders could face £400 fine for fly-tipping
Householders could face £400 fine for fly-tipping
By
Kate Dickinson
| 8 January 2019 |
A new fixed penalty notice has come into force for householders who don’t use a licensed waste carrier and whose waste ends up being fly-tipped. 
Within difficulty lies opportunity: How Brexit could drive the UK circular economy
Within difficulty lies opportunity: How Brexit could drive the UK circular economy
By
Roger Morton
| 3 January 2019 |
Roger Morton, Director of Axion Polymers, explains what opportunities for the UK waste and resources sector could arise out of the UK’s departure from the EU.
New Food Surplus and Waste Champion announced
New Food Surplus and Waste Champion announced
By
Kate Dickinson
| 2 January 2019 |
Ben Elliot of Quintessentially Group has been appointed the UK’s first Food Surplus and Waste Champion to drive the fight against food waste.
Andy Rees OBE
Andy Rees awarded OBE
By
Charles Newman
| 31 December 2018 |
The Head of Waste Strategy at the Welsh Government, Dr Andy Rees, has been recognised with an OBE for ‘services to the Environment and Recycling in Wales’ in the 2019 New Year Honours list. 
It’s time to vote for your Legends of Waste in this year’s Hot 100!
It’s time to vote for your Legends of Waste in this year’s Hot 100!
By
Rob Cole
| 20 December 2018 |
Who across the waste and resources world has done enough to etch their name into the pantheon of greats as this year’s Legend of Waste? You can tell us now by voting in this year’s Hot 100.
Gove commits to ‘significant’ funding to local authorities
Gove commits to ‘significant’ funding to local authorities
By
Rob Cole
| 20 December 2018 |
Local authorities will be given “hundreds of millions of pounds” in order to help them boost their recycling rates and waste management performance following the publication of the Resources and Waste Strategy, Environment Secretary Michael Gove told MPs yesterday.
Industry welcomes ‘bold and radical’ Resources and Waste Strategy
Industry welcomes ‘bold and radical’ Resources and Waste Strategy
By
Rob Cole
| 18 December 2018 |
Key stakeholders have largely welcomed the publication of the Resources and Waste Strategy by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), calling it a “blueprint for the future” and “bold and radical”, though some reservations remain.
Resources and Waste Strategy outlines government’s circular ambitions
Resources and Waste Strategy outlines government’s circular ambitions
By
Rob Cole
| 18 December 2018 |
Plans to introduce separate food waste collections to every household in England by 2023 and ensure producers pay for the costs of managing their waste packaging have been included in the long-awaited Resources and Waste Strategy.
Government minister calls for separate food waste collections
Government minister calls for separate food waste collections
By
Rob Cole
| 13 December 2018 |
Graham Stuart MP has stated that the upcoming Resources and Waste Strategy will “require separate food waste collections” in order to reduce carbon emissions and act as a feedstock for anaerobic digestion.
England’s recycling rate falls once again
England’s recycling rate falls once again
By
Rob Cole
| 12 December 2018 |
England’s ‘waste from households’ recycling rate has once again fallen following an increase last year, dropping 0.3 per cent to 44.8 per cent over 2017/18.
Bioeconomy Strategy aims to make UK world-leader by 2030
Bioeconomy Strategy aims to make UK world-leader by 2030
By
Rob Cole
| 7 December 2018 |
The UK Government has released its Bioeconomy Strategy, which outlines how the UK can build a world-class bioeconomy by 2030 and lead the way in easing the reliance on fossil resources.
Biffa launches £250,000 initiative to tackle construction waste crime
Biffa launches £250,000 initiative to tackle construction waste crime
By
Kate Nicholson
| 6 December 2018 |
Waste management provider, Biffa, has invested a quarter of a million pounds into a new initiative in an attempt to improve construction waste compliance across Yorkshire.
Latest WEEE figures suggest UK may miss 2018 targets
Latest WEEE figures suggest UK may miss 2018 targets
By
Kate Dickinson
| 4 December 2018 |
The government has released the latest statistics on WEEE collected for recycling in the UK, which suggest the UK may once again fall short of its targets.
Northern Ireland recycling rate up 3.7 per cent
Northern Ireland recycling rate up 3.7 per cent
By
Rob Cole
| 30 November 2018 |
Northern Ireland’s household waste recycling rate has jumped 3.7 per cent to 48.1 per cent, leaving England’s recycling rate languishing behind those of the devolved nations.
New fines proposed for householders to cut waste crime
New fines proposed for householders to cut waste crime
By
Kate Nicholson
| 26 November 2018 |
Following its public consultation on proposals to tackle waste crime, the government is considering introducing a new fixed penalty for householders failing their waste duty of care. 
Separate-food-waste-collection-WRAP
Coalition calls for mandatory separate collection of food waste in England
By
Kate Dickinson
| 23 November 2018 |
More than 40 businesses, local authorities and trade bodies have called on government to introduce universal mandatory collections of food waste to boost recycling rates.
Introduce levies on raw materials to boost secondary material markets, says Eunomia
Introduce levies on raw materials to boost secondary material markets, says Eunomia
By Resource |
21 November 2018 |
A new report by Eunomia proposes a system of levies and rebates to cut down on the use of raw materials in manufacturing and incentivise those producers that use more recycled materials.
Promote repair and reuse to increase fashion sustainability, MPs told
Promote repair and reuse to increase fashion sustainability, MPs told
By Resource |
19 November 2018 |
As part of the EAC’s inquiry into the sustainability of the fashion industry, designers and campaigners have called on government to better support repair and reuse of clothing and provide more information for consumers on the environmental impacts of their fashion choices.
Government review calls for new fines for mislabelling of waste
Government review calls for new fines for mislabelling of waste
By
Rob Cole
| 16 November 2018 |
The Environment Agency should be given the power to impose new fines on waste operators that deliberately mislabel their waste to avoid tax rules, according to an independent review ordered by Environment Secretary Michael Gove.