MEPs in the European Parliament have approved plans to ban some single-use plastic products and increase the collection and recycling of plastic bottles, with legislation to be implemented in member states by 2021.

The Nappy (Environmental Standards) Bill has been launched in Parliament designed to promote the use of reusable nappies.

A new food waste reduction project has been launched by Zero Waste Scotland across Dundee, Angus and Fife as regions aim to meet the Scottish Government’s goal of reducing food waste by 33 per cent by 2025.

The government has warned waste exporters to expect delays at container ports such as the Port of Dover in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal, and says businesses should seek ‘alternative’ export, recovery or disposal routes for their waste.

Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and central Scotland will each play host to Hubbub’s new boat made from 99 per cent recycled plastic, in order to raise awareness of growing levels of plastic pollution in the country’s waterways.

Two new public drinking fountains have been installed in Bury, Greater Manchester, in a bid to reduce plastic pollution and encourage the uptake of free drinking water.

An inquiry has been launched by Parliament’s Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee into the effects of the new Resources and Waste Strategy on English local authorities.

“16 full-time civil servants” will fill the environmental governance gap in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement, a situation Environment Secretary Michael Gove has described as “sub-optimal”.

The UK will not be able to meet its 2035 recycling targets without sweeping change, according to a new report from packaging producer DS Smith.

TOMRA Sorting Recycling has published a new e-book on the viability of using 100 per cent recycled plastics in goods production.