Members of the waste and resources industry have reacted to the announcement of the Circular Economy Package, questioning the ambition promised throughout its development.

The European Commission’s long-awaited Circular Economy Package has been launched, downgrading proposed recycling targets across the European Union to 65 per cent by 2030.

An ambitious circular economy package could save €3 billion a year and reduce unemployment in Europe, according to Green Alliance.

Northern Ireland has fallen short of its 45 per cent recycling rate target for 2015, reporting a national figure of 41.4 in new data.

The benefits of better waste management in the EU to greenhouse gas emissions are obscured by current statistics reporting, says Eunomia.

A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including a new Novelis plant, recycling benefitting London Zoo and a new glass recycling contract in Scotland.

Circular business models for refurbished hospital equipment are to be explored in a six-month project run by Axion Consulting and Philips.

The paint industry is calling on government to boost support for remanufactured paint and for household waste recycling centres to accept leftover household paint as part of a drive to increase its redistribution.

Gloucestershire County Council is to pay a further £17 million of public money to Urbaser Balfour Beatty to hasten construction to the controversial Javelin Park incinerator near Stroud.

Defra has today published the UK government’s response to three consultations relating to the European Commission’s Circular Economy Package.