UK Central Government

Promote repair and reuse to increase fashion sustainability, MPs told
Promote repair and reuse to increase fashion sustainability, MPs told

Fashion designers and campaigners questioned at a select committee hearing 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.


The hearing formed part of the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) inquiry into the sustainability of the fashion industry, launched in June,... More

Government review calls for new fines for mislabelling of waste
Government review calls for new fines for mislabelling of waste

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.

WasteAid wins funding for plastics recycling project in The Gambia
WasteAid wins funding for plastics recycling project in The Gambia

Waste management charity WasteAid UK will run a two-year plastic recycling project in The Gambia with government funding from UK Aid Direct.

UK Plastics Pact launches Roadmap to 2025 targets
UK Plastics Pact launches Roadmap to 2025 targets
By
Kate Dickinson
| 15 November 2018 |
The UK Plastics Pact has published its Roadmap to 2025, a document setting out how Pact members can achieve its ambitious targets to reduce plastic packaging waste.
Environmental inquiry ready to rail against online fashion retailers
Environmental inquiry ready to rail against online fashion retailers
By
Kate Nicholson
| 12 November 2018 |
The Environmental Audit Committee will be questioning leading fashion designers, entrepreneurs and campaigners at a public evidence hearing at the Victoria and Albert Museum on Tuesday 13 November.
Gove raids 400 staff from environment bodies for Defra Brexit preparations
Gove raids 400 staff from environment bodies for Defra Brexit preparations
By
Rob Cole
| 8 November 2018 |
Environment Secretary Michael Gove has been accused of having “raided” 400 staff from state environment bodies in order to plug gaps in Defra’s workforce in preparation for Brexit.
EAC criticises ‘woolly’ government commitment on future environmental policy
EAC criticises ‘woolly’ government commitment on future environmental policy
By
Rob Cole
| 6 November 2018 |
The government has been criticised by Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee for its approach to environmental policy post-Brexit, after it failed to commit to replacing EU legislation that cannot be easily transposed into UK law.
Public support for resource efficient policies, says report
Public supports resource efficient policies, says report
By
Rob Cole
| 5 November 2018 |
Three quarters of the UK public want the government to ensure that businesses produce repairable and recyclable products, while 90 per cent believe that all packaging should be made recyclable, according to a new survey conducted by Cardiff University.
Autumn Statement: Plastics tax to be introduced from April 2022
Autumn Statement: Plastics tax to be introduced from April 2022
By
Rob Cole
| 30 October 2018 |
A tax will be placed on the manufacture and import of plastic packaging containing less than 30 per cent recycled plastic, the Treasury’s Autumn Statement has revealed, though a coffee cup levy will not be introduced.
UK incinerators released 11m tonnes of CO2 in 2017, says UKWIN
UK incinerators released 11m tonnes of CO2 in 2017, says UKWIN
By
Rob Cole
| 26 October 2018 |
Around five million tonnes of fossil-based CO2 was emitted from the UK’s waste incinerators in 2017 from the burning of fossil-based materials such as plastics, according to a new report by the UK Without Incineration Network.
Wales commits £50m to build its global recycling reputation
Wales commits £50m to build its global recycling reputation
By
Kate Nicholson
| 23 October 2018 |
Environment Minister Hannah Blythyn has announced a raft of new measures and funding to build on Wales’ recycling success.
Consultation opens on English plastic straw ban
Consultation opens on English plastic straw ban
By
Kate Dickinson
| 22 October 2018 |
Plastic straws, drinks stirrers and cotton buds could be banned in England a year’s time, subject to the results of a consultation launched today (22 October).
Nick Oettinger standing by mattresses for recycling
More than plastics: Expanding innovation in waste management
By
Nick Oettinger
| 19 October 2018 |
Nick Oettinger, Managing Director of The Furniture Recycling Group, explains why innovation needs to be supported across the waste industry, not just focusing on plastics.
EA to investigate waste plastics exports fraud
EA to investigate waste plastics exports fraud
By
Rob Cole
| 19 October 2018 |
An official investigation has been launched into claims of widespread fraud and system abuse in the plastics recycling industry, with significant discrepancies between the amount of plastic claimed for through the PRN system and the amount recorded as exported by HMRC.
Defra still short of 1,400 staff ahead of EU withdrawal deadline
Defra still short of 1,400 staff ahead of EU withdrawal deadline
By
Rob Cole
| 17 October 2018 |
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is still short of 1,400 staff as the Brexit deadline of March 2019 approaches, having already recruited 1,300 new employees since April 2018.
Fashion bosses to be questioned over industry sustainability
Fashion bosses to be questioned over industry sustainability
By
Rob Cole
| 9 October 2018 |
As part of an EAC inquiry, fashion bosses will be asked to reveal the steps they are taking to improve the sustainability of their operations and reduce the environmental impact of the clothes that they sell.
NHS waste backlog sees human body parts pile up
NHS waste backlog sees human body parts pile up
By
Kate Dickinson
| 5 October 2018 |
A waste disposal company is under investigation after it was found to have built up a backlog of hundreds of tonnes of medical waste, including human body parts.
UK environment agencies focus on waste crime across borders
UK environment agencies focus on waste crime across borders
By
Kate Dickinson
| 4 October 2018 |
A new environmental campaign, ‘Drive out waste crime’, has been launched by SEPA to tackle the illegal transport and disposal of waste in the UK.
Gove pledges £15m to reduce UK food waste
Gove pledges £15m to reduce UK food waste
By
Kate Dickinson
| 3 October 2018 |
The Environment Secretary has announced a new scheme with businesses and charities to increase the amount of edible surplus food being redistributed to those in need.
New model needed to set ‘robust and realistic’ WEEE targets, says white paper
New model needed to set ‘robust and realistic’ WEEE targets, says white paper
By
Rob Cole
| 1 October 2018 |
Socio-economic factors and changes in product design should be considered when setting new WEEE collection targets, according to a new white paper commissioned by REPIC.
Tesco tackling plastic bottle waste with reverse vending machine
Tesco tackling plastic bottle waste with reverse vending machine
By
Kate Dickinson
| 27 September 2018 |
Tesco has launched a trial return scheme for plastic bottles as part of a plan to implement a more environmentally-friendly approach to packaging.
UK businesses sign up to ‘world first’ food waste reduction roadmap
UK businesses sign up to ‘world first’ food waste reduction roadmap
By
Kate Dickinson
| 25 September 2018 |
Organisations from across the UK food industry have committed to a wide-reaching plan to get the country on the path to halving its food waste by 2030.
UK says ‘We do’ recycle for this year’s national Recycle Week
UK says ‘We do’ recycle for this year’s national Recycle Week
By
Kate Dickinson
| 24 September 2018 |
Building on the surge in public interest in recycling spearheaded by Blue Planet II, Recycle Week 2018 is focusing on ways to keep the momentum going.