Comment: New UK tax on plastic packaging seems to be working

Share of UK businesses using recycled plastic in packaging rising from 31% to 44% A new UK tax on plastic packaging already seems to be...

Partnership aims to create circular supply chain for wind turbine rare earth magnets

As the first generation of the UK’s wind turbines come to the end of their serviceable life, a project called “Re-Rewind” aims to help...

“It’s a mess” – businesses warned not to be caught out by latest EPR...

Environmental data specialist Ecoveritas has warned businesses not to be caught off-guard following the Environment Agency's announcement on 5 September that it is delaying...

‘Can’ the negativity, a thought-through DRS could revolutionise recycling, says trade group

According to insight leaked earlier this week, feverish meetings between government and industry bodies have concluded that the already delayed start date for the roll-out...

A “game-changer” for plastic pollution: First draft of Global Reuse Target published

Countries to adopt “reuse targets” if text is adopted Environmental charity City to Sea has today (4 September) welcomed the inclusion of reuse targets1 in...

University project resolves a sticky issue with adhesive recycling

Adhesive residue left on recyclable materials, such as glass and cardboard, can be a challenge to recycle. But a new approach that uses degradable...

Deal will supply drives to the world’s largest battery recycling facility

A recycling site in Sweden will process 125,000 tons of end-of-life batteries and battery production waste each year, making it the largest plant of...

Rare metals extraction puts a new spin on decommissioned wind turbines

A technique for extracting rare elements from waste alloy metals is being developed by  Aberdeenshire-based SEM and researchers from the University of Edinburgh, with...

New grades of recycled steel: Project shortlisted for award

A project that seeks to create new high-quality grades of recycled steel – and produce a sustainable alternative raw material for the cement industry...

UK EPR needs a leader, says the concept’s originator

Extended Producer Responsibility formulator Thomas Lindquist has called on the UK government to look beyond the money flow and embrace its responsibilities, as Defra...

Partnership to manage waste and recycling associated with plastic pipelines

A new total waste management partnership brings together plastic pipeline solutions manufacturer Radius Systems and waste management expert Axil Integrated Services (Axil). Radius Systems...

Aluminium packaging recycling soars in Q2, but PRN prices remain high

According to recent data published on the National Packaging Waste Database (NPWD) by the Environment Agency (EA), aluminium packaging recycling volumes rocketed in Q2....

EPR for packaging delay prompts soul-searching as UK confronts stagnant recycling rates

Just as anticipated, the government has decided to delay the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (EPR) by a year. The move was...

Computational approach gets a better handle on plastics pyrolysis

Unlike glass, which is infinitely recyclable (well okay, maybe not exactly), plastic is challenging and expensive to recycle because of the material’s complex molecular...

Urgent action needed to improve recyclate quality

A new report calls for urgent industry action to define the appropriate quality specifications for mechanical recyclates. There is an urgent need to increase...

Cost-of-living crisis driving Scots to embrace share and repair projects

A new study commissioned by Scotland’s Share & Repair Network, a project of Circular Communities Scotland, seems to show that the cost-of-living crisis is...

A new start? Retooling wind power for a circular economy

Around 80-90% of the weight of wind turbines can be recycled, according to recent estimates, although, historically, very little of this kind of thing...

Comment: Time for DRS to go digital?

Joseph Doherty of Re-Gen considers the role that might be played by a digital deposit return scheme. The forthcoming regulations for a UK deposit...

Time to press on with EPR and Consistency and ditch DRS, says The Recycling...

The Recycling Association has said that the National Audit Office (NAO) report on resources and waste reforms shows that Defra needs to get on...

Prefilled panacea: Report spotlights potential for innovation in consumer products

Packaging innovation could pave the way to making reuse the everyday choice of consumers in UK supermarkets, according to a report released on 16...