North London Waste Authority has responded to government’s draft industrial strategy, pointing out that it makes no mention of waste, the circular economy or society’s need to manage physical resources better.

The British Plastics Federation Recycling Group (BPFRG) has launched a new strategy with the aim of improving plastic recycling in the UK, retaining valuable material and creating UK-based jobs through industry-led initiatives and regulation.

Independent think thank Green Alliance has published a collection of short essays from business and policy professionals saying the government must go ‘much further’ to embed resource efficiency in the UK economy.

Environmental consultancy Eunomia Research & Consulting has been appointed by the European Commission to run a study investigating how to reduce the effects of microplastics escaping into the oceans.

The ‘whole body’ of existing EU environmental law will be carried over into UK law when Britain leaves the EU in 2019, the government has confirmed through its Great Repeal Bill white paper.

Defra has established food waste, urban recycling and the benefits of resource efficiency as ‘high-level’ R&D priorities in the department.

Simple steps like charges and environmental messaging could reduce the use of disposable coffee cups by 50 to 300 million per year, according to new research.

Zero Waste Scotland has teamed up with Eunomia to identify circular economy opportunities within the Scottish construction sector.

The government has asked members of the waste industry to give their views on the proposed extension of the landfill tax to include deposits made illegally on unpermitted sites.

The Welsh Government is to consult on the possibility of setting an 80 per cent recycling target for local authorities, after noting that it is due to hit its 70 per cent goal ahead of schedule.