The Marine Conservation Society has called for the introduction of a deposit-return system for all ‘single-use drinks containers’ after a record amount of litter was found on beaches last year.

Cuts to the Landfill Communities Fund have been confirmed as part of the Budget 2016 today (16 March), though a proposed measure to prohibit third-party contribution has been dropped.

Aberdeenshire Council is formally calling for Scottish local authorities to be involved in the design of a deposit-return system.

Marcus Gover, Director at WRAP, shares his vision of an England where householders know exactly what goes ‘in’ recycling bins and what stays ‘out’.

The number of facilities reporting their figures under the Materials Facilities Regulations sampling requirements has reduced from a low baseline figure, while validation queries raised by regulators has also reduced.

Mandatory separate collection systems for the main recyclable material streams and biowaste should be established in all EU member states, says a study published by the European Commission last week.

Defra has released its second annual ‘Digest of Waste and Resource Statistics’, which collates official UK waste statistics for ‘ease of use’.

Only eight waste collection authorities have implemented changes to meet separate collection requirements for key recyclable materials, according to an Environment Agency report.

Industry bodies have given their views on altered business packaging targets for plastic and glass after a Defra consultation closed last month.

More consideration is needed before a decision can be made on a deposit-return scheme (DRS) in Scotland, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has said.