UK Central Government

Bins next to UK Parliament
England’s residual waste fell by over 1M tonnes in 2023

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published its latest estimates of residual and municipal waste in England, revealing modest progress that falls short of the reduction trajector

Reverse vending machine in Iceland, Northern Ireland
Government appoints operator to run DRS schemes

Deposit Management Organisation to manage producer registration, container collection and financial systems across England, Scotland and N. Ireland

Waste cowboy fly-tipping in rural area
‘Waste cowboys’ targeted in new Government fly-tipping reforms

Review of waste crime legislation looks to remove regulatory barriers preventing councils from seizing and crushing vehicles used in illegal dumpings

Cardboard packaging with RFID tag
PackUK eases 'red' and 'amber' ratings for Recyclability Assessment Methodology
By
Beth Jones
| 29 April 2025 |
New exemptions for all DRS-covered containers included in RAM update, following simplification sprint with stakeholders
Firefighter extinguishing a fire in the back of a refuse collection vehicle
ESA calls for universal kerbside collection of batteries and electricals
By
Charles Newman
| 28 April 2025 |
Research shows mandatory collections could prevent 85 per cent of waste fires and save £6bn over a decade
Global Deposit Dashboard, Reloop
Deposit return schemes reach over 350 million people worldwide
By
Beth Jones
| 10 April 2025 |
Reloop launches Global Deposit Dashboard tracking global legislation, as the UK prepares for nationwide implementation by 2027
Plastic pellets
EAC launches inquiry into impact of ‘forever chemicals’
By
Beth Jones
| 10 April 2025 |
The investigation will examine risks to humans and environment from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) found in everyday products
Graham Horn / Cottage Lane flytipping / CC BY-SA 2.0
Defra opens consultation on waste permit reforms
By
Beth Jones
| 8 April 2025 |
UK and Welsh Governments launch joint review to close loopholes exploited by illegal waste fraud, following Corry Review
Pile of tyres
Environment Agency to review its approach to waste tyre exports
By
Beth Jones
| 1 April 2025 |
Following the release of the BBC’s File on 4 ‘Tyre Scandal’ and legal campaign from Fighting Dirty, the government body will take three months to investigate UK tyre shipments to India
Bins next to UK Parliament
England’s household recycling rate rises to 44 per cent
By
Beth Jones
| 27 March 2025 |
Latest figures for 2023/24 reverses recent decline, but still remains below pre-pandemic levels
Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed
Steve Reed announces plans to end UK ‘throwaway society’
By
Beth Jones
| 27 March 2025 |
Circular Economy Taskforce to prioritise textiles, transport, construction, agri-food and chemicals and plastics sectors
Celtic Renewables’ biorefinery
Fragmented policy hinders UK bioeconomy’s potential to generate £204B in revenue
By
Beth Jones
| 26 March 2025 |
BB-REG-NET report highlights how conflicting governmental perspectives limit development of sustainable bio-based materials sector
End-of-life tyres (Paul McIlroy / Used tyres / CC BY-SA 2.0)
BBC Investigation: Millions of end-of-life tyres exported to illegal pyrolysis facilities
By
Beth Jones
| 26 March 2025 |
The BBC ‘File on 4’ investigation finds UK tyres fuelling toxic pollution in unlicensed processing plants, prompting industry calls for immediate regulation
Anaerobic Digestion Plant © Chris Allen
AD plants ‘at serious risk of closing down’ as subsidies phased out
By
Beth Jones
| 25 March 2025 |
ADBA warns more smaller plants may close, despite the sector providing significant amount of UK’s renewable energy
UK shipping port
Environment Agency makes arrests for £747,000 recycling credit fraud
By
Beth Jones
| 13 March 2025 |
A 45-year-old and 43-year-old have been released on bail as part of ongoing investigation into illegal recycling export paperwork scheme
Simon Stringer, Managing Director of Scotpak
Small or large producers?
By
Simon Stringer, Managing Director of Scotpak
| 11 March 2025 |
Simon Stringer, Managing Director of Scotpak, offers alternative reporting model for small retailers that face administrative challenges under pEPR
Pile of waste tyres
Tyre recyclers calls for immediate end of T8 exemptions
By
Beth Jones
| 4 March 2025 |
TRA criticises government inaction on delayed waste regulations, despite Scotland already removing the contentious loopholes in 2018
Graeme Milne, Chief Executive of REPIC
Balancing Act: Opinion on UK waste electricals response
By
Graeme Milne, Chief Executive of REPIC
| 4 March 2025 |
Graeme Milne, Chief Executive of REPIC, shares views on Defra’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment consultation response
Worker in packaging warehouse
Four nations jointly issue requirements for PackUK’s implementation strategy
By
Beth Jones
| 27 February 2025 |
Joint policy statement details check list of scheme administrator duties, with June 2025 deadlines set for key governance documents
Ferrybridge mixed energy facility, with CCS
Seventh Carbon Budget proposes UK target of 68 per cent recycling rate by 2035
By Resource |
26 February 2025 |
Committee for Climate Change also says EfW must be included in Emissions Trading Scheme and face mandatory carbon capture requirements
Newbury Community Resource Centre
Government urged to prioritise reuse sector in Circular Economy Strategy
By
Beth Jones
| 20 February 2025 |
Reuse Network report calls for removal of regulatory barriers and increased support for reuse charities through credit schemes, regional hubs, and new partnerships
Bulldozer on slope of an inert landfill
Government outlines next steps for landfill waste reduction
By
Beth Jones
| 13 February 2025 |
Results of Defra consultation show industry backing for coordinated approach to reduce biodegradable waste in landfill, with focus on developing treatment infrastructure
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