The Welsh Government and the county of Rhondda Cynon Taf have called on local businesses to come up with innovative new solutions to allow every part of the mattress to be recycled as part of a competition this winter.

The Department of Health has announced that it will review the impact of marine microplastics on human health, in response to the Environmental Audit Committee’s inquiry on microplastic pollution.

A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including a school food waste initiative, smart bin success and an anti-littering poster.

Co-Leader of the Green Party has tabled an early day motion calling for the introduction of a bottle deposit return scheme (DRS) as part of the National Litter Strategy.

Five leading fashion brands and retailers have become the first to sign up to the European Clothing Action Plan, a Europe-wide strategy to reduce the carbon, water and waste footprints of the fashion industry.

REnescience Northwich, a facility using innovative enzyme technology to separate household waste from recyclable materials and generate energy at the same time, will open next year, Danish firm DONG Energy has announced.

Bayern Munich and Real Madrid will be taking to the pitch in kits made of recycled ocean plastic as part of Adidas’s partnership with the Parley for the Oceans charity.

Evolve Polymers, one of the largest plastics recyclers in Europe, has been sold to US-based Plastipak Packaging.

Up to £4 billion of value is currently ‘hidden’ in the waste generated by three major sectors and could be extracted with better reuse, recycling and remanufacturing, says Veolia.

Industry groups have both supported and criticised Waste Minister Therese Coffey’s move to reject a proposal by the Liberal Democrats to bring in a 5p charge on disposable coffee cups to reduce waste.