UK Central Government

Fashion producers should pay a penny per item to fund waste collection, say MPs
Fashion producers should pay a penny per item to fund waste collection, say MPs

Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) is calling for a one pence producer responsibility fee to be paid by fashion brands and retailers on each item of clothing they sell in order to fund better textile waste collection.


In a new report released yesterday (19 February), entitled ‘Fixing fashion: Clothing consumption and sustainability’, the EAC has called for the fashion industry to... More

Dsposal's Developer Georgios Rovolis, CEO Tom Passmore and COO Sophie Walker
Dsposal wins £80k government waste crime contract

Manchester-based compliance start-up Dsposal has been awarded a contract worth £80,000 to develop a smart waste tracking system to combat waste crime across the UK.

Plastic packaging
Government launches resources and waste consultations

Consultations have been opened on four key measures in the Resources and Waste Strategy, seeking views on producer responsibility, consistent collections, deposit return schemes and the plastics tax.

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.
WasteAid wins funding for plastics recycling project in The Gambia
WasteAid wins funding for plastics recycling project in The Gambia
By
Kate Dickinson
| 16 November 2018 |
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).