UK Central Government

A compostable plastic bag
UK Government launches bioplastics drive

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has announced a drive to encourage innovation in bioplastics.


WRAP logo
WRAP funding to support business waste recycling

£1 million of funding has been announced by the Waste and Resources Action Programme to support business waste recycling in England as part of a larger investment package provided by Defra.

Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, Clive Betts MP
Government must allow councils flexibility to achieve recycling targets

If targets in the Resources and Waste strategy are to be met, the government must provide adequate funding and allow local authorities to develop recycling strategies and collection systems that are appropriate for their communities, says the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee. 

Therese Coffey and Chris Preston appear before the Efra Committee
Coffey dismisses local authority concerns regarding ‘all-in’ DRS
By
Rob Cole
| 18 July 2019 |
Resources Minister Therese Coffey said that there was “no threat to the sustainability of kerbside collections” from a deposit return scheme as she backed an ‘all-in’ model at an evidence session of Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove
‘All-in’ deposit return scheme has Gove’s support
By
Kate Dickinson
| 17 July 2019 |
Environment Secretary Michael Gove has put his weight behind an ‘all-in’ DRS for drinks containers as part of a speech on the need to act on climate change, pollution and natural degradation.
Mixed plastic and card food packaging
Public wants ‘national standard’ for packaging recycling
By
Kate Dickinson
| 16 July 2019 |
A majority of the British public wants all food packaging to be made 100 per cent recyclable anywhere in the country, according to a survey commissioned by WRAP and INCPEN.
A truck disposing of residual waste in a landfill site.
CCC urges biodegradable landfill ban as carbon reduction efforts stall
By
Rob Cole
| 10 July 2019 |
The Committee on Climate Change says the UK should bring forward a ban on biodegradable waste to landfill to 2025 after a new report published by the Committee revealed the UK to be ‘lagging far behind’ on efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Bales of RDF ready for export
RDF Industry Group criticises Dutch tax proposals
By
Imogen Benson
| 9 July 2019 |
The RDF Industry Group has responded to the Dutch Government’s new tax proposals, warning that they will be ‘counterproductive’ in reducing CO2 emissions. 
Hands holding food and other biodegradable waste
UK makes progress towards zero food waste to landfill
By
Kate Dickinson
| 4 July 2019 |
The UK has reduced the amount of food waste going to landfill by almost two million tonnes since 2013, says a new report from ReFood, but big challenges remain before we can reach zero waste.
MPs launch inquiry into e-waste and the circular economy
MPs launch inquiry into e-waste and the circular economy
By
Rob Cole
| 27 June 2019 |
Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has launched an inquiry into the environmental and human health impacts of electronic waste (e-waste) and the opportunities for the circular economy for electronic goods.
WRAP publishes list of plastic items to be eliminated by end of 2020
WRAP publishes list of plastic items to be eliminated by end of 2020
By
Rob Cole
| 26 June 2019 |
Members of the UK Plastics Pact have committed to removing eight problematic or unnecessary single-use plastic items from shelves by the end of 2020 and have identified a further 19 items to take action against by 2025, though campaigners say the industry’s approach is “inadequate”.
No PRN compliance fee before 2020, says ACP
No PRN compliance fee before 2020, says ACP
By
Rob Cole
| 24 June 2019 |
The Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP) has stated that some form of packaging compliance fee could be introduced in 2020, but that the tight legislative timetable would preclude its introduction in 2019.
Image of clothing in a landfill
EAC proposals to tackle fast fashion rejected by government
By
Kate Dickinson
| 18 June 2019 |
The government has rejected proposals for a one pence tax on clothing to fund the collection, recycling and reuse of textiles as it continues to support voluntary commitments over legislative action.
Recycled content: Let's talk about tax
Recycled content: Let's talk about tax
By
Rob Cole
| 18 June 2019 |
Domestic markets for recycled plastics are struggling to take hold, with policy-makers scratching their heads over how to stimulate demand. Rob Cole examines the government’s proposed 'plastics tax' and asks whether it will achieve its desired outcome
Mixed plastic bottles and packaging
PRN ‘crisis’ as UK could miss packaging recycling targets
By
Kate Dickinson
| 17 June 2019 |
The Packaging Scheme Forum has warned of a looming crisis in the packaging recycling industry, with the price of Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs) for plastic rising while recycling rates drop. Could a packaging compliance fee be the solution?
Crushed and baled aluminium cans
Aluminium can recycling boost announced at Resourcing the Future
By
Kate Dickinson
| 14 June 2019 |
Three out of four aluminium cans were recycled in the UK in 2018, Rick Hindley of Alupro announced at the Resourcing the Future conference this week.
MPs call for immediate action on plastic packaging
MPs call for immediate action on plastic packaging
By
Rob Cole
| 5 June 2019 |
MPs are calling for immediate action to introduce an extended producer responsibility regime for packaging based on the ‘polluter pays’ principle.
Image of a tractor in front of an anaerobic digestion facility
Bioenergy: ‘No regrets’ solution to cutting carbon emissions
By
Kate Dickinson
| 5 June 2019 |
The UK is not on track to meet future carbon budgets – but a new report from the Renewable Energy Association claims that bioenergy holds the key to cutting carbon emissions.
Plastic straws on a beach
Ban on plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds confirmed for England
By
Kate Dickinson
| 23 May 2019 |
Plastic straws, drinks stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds will be banned in England from April 2020, Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced. 
Victoria Hutchin headshot
Who's really responsible for litter?
By
Victoria Hutchin
| 21 May 2019 |
Victoria Hutchin, Associate Waste & Resource Management Consultant at WYG, assesses how extended producer responsibility reforms could impact how we deal with litter.
Mounds of fly-tipped waste in North London
Councils call for funding as fly-tipping cases sky-rocket
By
Rob Cole
| 17 May 2019 |
The Local Government Association has called for tougher sentences for fly-tippers and more funding to investigate and prosecute offenders as fly-tipping incidents rise by 40 per cent since 2012.
Packaging industry calls for joined-up approach to waste policy
Packaging industry calls for joined-up approach to waste policy
By
Rob Cole
| 16 May 2019 |
Key stakeholders from across the packaging supply chain have written to Environment Secretary Michael Gove to outline their priorities for the next stage of delivery of the Resources and Waste Strategy.
A volunteer passes tomatoes to be redistributed at Fareshare's Yorkshire depot.
£4.2m of funding awarded to food redistribution organisations
By
Rob Cole
| 10 May 2019 |
Four food redistribution organisations across England have been awarded a share of £4.2 million in government funding to redirect unwanted food from bins to plates.