Robotics hub to benchmark waste sorting under real-world conditions
A new £3.6 million research and technology adoption hub will help UK waste and recycling operators test robotic sorting systems under real-world conditions, with...
First new WEEE compliance scheme approved since 2015
A new waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) producer compliance scheme has received regulatory approval for the 2027 compliance year, becoming the first new...
Higher PRN prices linked to recycling gains
Higher Packaging Recovery Note (PRN) prices are associated with increased recycling tonnages across most packaging materials, with export markets showing a stronger response than...
Wood industry waste material can be turned into material for sodium-ion batteries
A byproduct of the pulp and paper industry could provide a more sustainable material for sodium-ion batteries, following research at the University of Limerick...
Recycling technology and circular design recognised in plastics awards
Innovations in AI-enabled waste sorting, recyclable packaging and plastics circularity were among those recognised at the 2026 RECOUP Awards, held on 30 September.
The annual...
Portable battery collections face 63% EU target as measurement rules change
The latest EU-wide portable battery collection rate stands at 48.8%, while the Batteries Regulation sets a 63% target for the end of 2027. But...
Britain’s recycling system is writing off electronics that could be repaired
Britain’s approach to electronic waste is prioritising disposal over repair, allowing valuable devices and materials to slip through the net, according to new research...
Maidstone trials textile waste in pothole repairs
Old clothes are being used to fix potholes in Maidstone's parks in a trial involving Maidstone Borough Council and sustainable materials company RECOOL.
The council...
Concrete recycling system recovers aggregates and fines at Greenwich plant
A recycling system installed at Heidelberg Materials’ Greenwich concrete plant is recovering aggregates and cementitious fines* from returned concrete for use in new materials,...
Composite recycling start-up looks to give wind turbine blades a second life
A Derbyshire start-up developing technology to recycle hard-to-process composite materials is targeting the wind energy market as it moves towards commercialisation and prepares to...
CIWM urges new direction on waste
A new policy briefing urges the Government to look beyond recycling and collections, and introduce measures to stimulate reuse, domestic reprocessing and resource security
The...
Waste sites face October deadline for mandatory digital reporting
Permitted waste facilities in England and Wales will have to record every load of controlled waste through a new digital service from 1 October,...
Report charts efforts to scale up fight against plastic waste
An industry-backed initiative tackling plastic pollution says its projects reduced 138,000 tonnes of unmanaged plastic waste in 2025 – more than a third of...
EU prepares new restrictions on waste exports to non-OECD countries
The European Commission is preparing tighter controls on exports of waste, including aluminium scrap, to non-OECD countries, going beyond rules due to take effect...
AI system could provide early warning of landfill gas exposure
A system that uses weather data to estimate communities’ exposure to landfill gases could provide an early-warning mechanism for pollution episodes, according to research...
Not-so-simple recycling? Complex rules still leave room for confusion
England may be moving towards greater consistency in household recycling, but new analysis suggests residents still face a sometimes bewildering array of local instructions...
Environment Agency to deploy AI to target waste crime and non-compliance
The Environment Agency is increasing its use of AI and machine learning to identify waste-sector compliance risks and target regulatory activity towards operators and...
Specialist reach stacker deployed for Thames waste operation
A 113-tonne reach stacker engineered to handle waste containers across the River Thames’ substantial tidal range has been commissioned at a recycling operation in...
Utility adopts technology to recycle contaminated laboratory plastics
Scottish Water has begun using an on-site disinfection and shredding technology that could allow potentially contaminated single-use laboratory plastics to be recycled instead of...
Councils could gain new powers to make fly-tippers clean up waste
Fly-tipping offenders could be required to clean up dumped waste and contribute towards the cost of putting the damage right under government proposals intended...
