UK Central Government

Warehouse worker with hardhat wrapping boxes in stretch film parcel on pallet
UK plastic packaging tax undermined by fraudulent recycled content claims

Fraudulent recycled content claims on imported plastic packaging are undermining the UK's Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) and threatening the survival of domestic recycling operations, according to a new report from RECOUP, the UK’s plastics recycling charity.

Surgical gloves being discarded
NHS shift from single-use plastics to bio-based products could unlock £120 million market

Research identifies opportunity to expand the UK bioeconomy through sustainable public purchasing

Whole used tyres for recycling
TRA warns domestic tyre processors could follow plastics industry into crisis

Industry body warns of similar fate to plastics sector amid market pressures and regulatory failures

Glas bottles on a conveyor belt in production
Wales to develop separate deposit return scheme to protect recycling progress
By Resource |
18 November 2024 |
Deputy First Minister confirms nation will exit UK-wide DRS process over Internal Market Act constraints
Person walking past a sign pointing to Parliament and Westminster
Knowledge gaps and policy inertia stall UK's circular economy ambitions
By Resource |
18 November 2024 |
Green Alliance report reveals how lack of understanding and vested interests blocked progress on resources strategy
Plastic packaging
UK Government, businesses and NGOs call for international Plastics Pollution Treaty to phase out ‘problematic’ plastics
By
Beth Jones
| 7 November 2024 |
Organisations attending roundtable event hosted by the King issue joint-statement calling on Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to ‘agree to an ambitious treaty that addresses the full lifecycle of plastics’
Rachel Reeves with Red Box
Budget: Government guarantees £1.1 billion EPR revenue for local authorities next year
By
Beth Jones
| 30 October 2024 |
Rachel Reeves first budget confirms existing commitments to managing waste resources, as well as investment in carbon capture storage
Picture of Parliament
Government lays Packaging EPR Regulations before Parliament
By Resource |
26 October 2024 |
Significant step forward for pEPR implementation as the statutory instrument to mandate disposal cost payment obligations for producers is added to parliamentary timetable
Rachel Reeves
Campaigners call for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to deliver ‘Britain’s greenest ever budget’
By
Beth Jones
| 25 October 2024 |
Concerns raised about UK Government environmental policy after exclusion of glass from DRS
Collection of disposable vapes
Disposable vapes banned in England from next year
By
Beth Jones
| 24 October 2024 |
Defra announces ban on sale and supply of disposable vapes from June 2025 in a bid to ‘end this nation’s throwaway culture’
Line for the production of plastic PET bottles on the background of the worker. Preparation of containers for drinks and sunflower oil
False recycled content claims undermining UK plastic recycling system
By
Beth Jones
| 17 October 2024 |
RECOUP calls for urgent reforms to Plastic Packaging Tax enforcement
Dan Corry
Defra launches regulatory review to balance growth and environmental protection
By Resource |
17 October 2024 |
Former No10 Policy Unit head Dan Corry to examine regulatory landscape for economic and environmental balance
Waste incinerator in London
BBC analysis: Waste incineration now UK's dirtiest form of power generation
By
Charles Newman
| 15 October 2024 |
With almost half of all UK household waste currently burned, waste industry challenges the BBC's new research revealing incineration produces same CO2 per unit of energy as coal
Dimitra Rappou, Executive Director of Sustainable Products at the Confederation of Paper Industries
Unlocking the Circular Economy: Why Quality Recycling Must Take Priority
By
Dimitra Rappou
| 11 October 2024 |
Dimitra Rappou, CPI's Executive Director of Sustainable Products calls for focus on recyclate quality in Simpler Recycling proposals
Packaging in warehouse
Defra releases second set of indicative fees for packaging EPR
By
Beth Jones
| 1 October 2024 |
Updated guidance based on new Report Packaging Data sees decrease in estimated base fees
Graph showing recycling performance of England, Wales, Scotland and N.Ireland
'Deeply disappointing' as UK household recycling rate falls to 44.1 per cent
By Resource |
27 September 2024 |
Annual data shows England's recycling rate drops to 43.4 per cent, while Wales maintains lead at 56.9 per cent
Small electrical items
Environment Agency announces new waste shipping codes for WEEE
By
Beth Jones
| 26 September 2024 |
New classifications for hazardous and non-hazardous WEEE will be implemented from 1 January 2025
Hands holding aluminium can over rows of cans
Three quarters of Britons hope to see Deposit Return Scheme in place by 2027
By
Beth Jones
| 19 September 2024 |
New poll by Alupro outlines desires for a clear environmental plan from new Labour Government
Defra sign
Defra announces plan for Circular Economy Taskforce
By Resource |
13 September 2024 |
Expert group to be convened to help Government develop strategy for transitioning to a circular economy, supporting green jobs and resource efficiency
Commingled recycling
Trade associations press Defra over commingled recycling collection
By
Charles Newman
| 9 September 2024 |
CPI, British Glass, and ACE UK warn that Government’s Simpler Recycling proposals will harm circular economy goals
Construction waste being processed with a telehandler
Over half of waste and recycling datasets phased out under Conservatives, research shows
By Resource |
3 September 2024 |
Number of government-published waste and recycling datasets fell by six per cent annually from 2010 to 2022
Wind turbines in field
Upgraded old turbines offer solution to UK onshore wind goals
By
Beth Jones
| 21 August 2024 |
EMR Metals Recycling suggests incentivising repowering of ageing turbines to help meet 2030 targets
Large wind turbine on the ground, awaiting construction
Reuse of critical raw materials key to UK energy security
By Resource |
16 August 2024 |
Green Alliance report calls for urgent Government action to safeguard resources needed for transition to renewable energy