The cancelled order was for an automated textile sorting and pre-processing plant from Danish technology supplier NewRetex, capable of sorting non-reusable textiles by material composition, colour and the presence of hard parts. Funding came through ACT UK, a two-year initiative between Innovate UK and the UK Fashion and Textile Association supporting automated textile sorting in the UK. Circle-8's award of around £1.6 million was the largest under the programme.

A Circle-8 spokesperson told letsrecycle.com: 'Our activities remain focused on delivering the same intended outcomes. As with capital-intensive projects in challenging market conditions, timelines continue to be kept under review to ensure long-term success.' The second-hand textiles market has faced sustained pressure from falling demand and rising supply, and a textile Extended Producer Responsibility scheme expected as part of the UK Circular Economy Growth Plan has been delayed to an unconfirmed date.

Although household hazardous waste accounts for around 1 per cent of municipal waste by volume, it carries disproportionate risks to health, the environment and recycling systems if mishandled, according to FEAD. The declaration sets out recommendations on data collection and material characterisation, fair cost-sharing mechanisms, citizen awareness, capacity building, and investment in infrastructure and treatment capacity. It is also endorsed by the European Electronics Recyclers Association and the International Solid Waste Association.

Paolo Campanella, Secretary General of FEAD, said household hazardous waste 'is highly complex and costly to manage' and that operators and municipalities still need 'the right operational and financial framework and infrastructure to handle this waste safely and efficiently'. The declaration emerges from the Hazards Out! initiative, a partnership between the three organisations coordinated by NOWMORE.

CIRQLR was created through a three-year buy-and-build programme backed by iCON Infrastructure and operates as a regional business recycling group serving the industrial and commercial sectors. The new facilities can be extended on the same terms with NatWest. CIRQLR says this will support further M&A and corporate development over the next year or two.

David Palmer-Jones, CEO of CIRQLR, said the facilities would 'support all our investment plans, provide us with the springboard to further develop our offerings for customers and keep us agile'. He added that the group is positioning to take advantage of an expanding market driven by new regulatory opportunities for the circular economy.

The men were found guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court of an offending pattern that spanned a year. According to the Environment Agency, gang members unlawfully occupied vacant sites and filled them with tyres and waste from house clearances and construction within hours, before moving on to the next location. At Imperial Way in Croydon, the landowner faced £300,000 in clean-up costs. At Station Road in Colliers Wood, the gang demanded £5,000 from a site worker; when the money was not paid, waste was piled five feet high and the clean-up cost £15,000.

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: 'My message is simple - break the law by dumping waste and we will come after you.' The case follows the government's Waste Crime Action Plan and a £45 million increase to the agency's enforcement budget over three years. Waste crime costs the UK over £1 billion a year.

The pilot launched at Extra's flagship Beaconsfield service station in spring 2024 under the banner 'Litter, we'll sort it for you'. Food court bins were replaced with signed trolleys, and trained staff sorted waste at a dedicated on-site facility. Recycling rates rose to 36 per cent by April 2025. The operator then removed all external car park bins from its 10 sites. Customers either returned waste to food courts or took it home, litter levels held steady, and the absence of food waste outdoors reduced vermin.

The partnership delivered lower spend on bin bags and waste handling without an increase in labour hours, according to Reconomy. David Gudgeon, Head of External Affairs at Reconomy Connect, said the approach showed 'with the right data and process, we can make recycling simple, effective, and measurable across the retail and hospitality sector'.