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Large and medium-sized retailers across England are preparing for the start of the 5p charge for single use carrier bags, which comes into effect from the beginning of next week (October 5). Under the new law, retailers with more than 250 employees nationwide will be required to charge customers a minimum of 5p for every…
Kerry McCarthy, the MP for Bristol West, was appointed shadow Environment Secretary by Jeremy Corbyn following his election as Labour leader last month. A champion of laws to tackle food waste, vegan Ms McCarthy steps down from several Parliamentary roles to take up the position, including her chairmanship of the All-Party Food Waste Group. A…
The latest recycling figures released for England show the country is close to achieving a 45% rate. Recycling, reuse and composting reached 44.8% in the 12 months to December 2014, a slight increase from the 44.2% rate the previous year. Defra, which published the final quarter data, suggests the increase was driven by a rise…
The Waste Batteries and Accumulators Regulations 2009 states domestic batteries that can be carried by an “average natural person without difficulty” are deemed portable if they are not already classified as automotive or industrial. Since the battery recycling regulations came into force, Britain has been recycling more portable Lead acid batteries than it produces. Following…
Consistent waste reporting and compulsory separate collections of biowaste are among the proposals that have been floated in the EU Commission’s consultation on the circular economy. As the waste industry anticipates the launch of the Commission’s circular economy package this autumn, the Environmental Services Association, Resource Association and the Renewable Energy Association have offered their…
Government departments including the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) have been asked to prepare for spending cuts of up to 40% over the next four years as the Government looks to slash spending in Whitehall by £20 billion. In a move which is likely to hit Defra’s work on waste, Chancellor George…
Over £1.1 billion was raised by the Treasury through Landfill Tax in 2014, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The figure is almost 10 times the income of £113 million generated from the tax when it was first introduced in 1996. The landfill tax was initially set up to help…
Meeting higher targets for the collection of waste electronic and electrical equipment (WEEE) looks “very achievable”, according to an official from the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS). Speaking at a WEEE Conference in London in June, Steven Andrews said that both EU collection and producer compliance scheme targets had been achieved, while the…
Resource management minister, Rory Stewart, has declared an ambition to see the UK become the “best country in the world for recycling”. The strong statement in favour of recycling was delivered at the combined annual conference of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), the Environmental Services Association (ESA) and the Resource Association in London…
Last month we informed you that the new Hazardous chemical classification changes were coming into force on the 1st June. After we had sent out the newsletter we learnt that they had been delayed until the 1st July. To remind you the European Classification, Labelling & Packaging (CLP) Regulations will take effect in the UK…
