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Court of Auditors warns over costs of DRS
Deposit Return Schemes can support more ambitious recycling targets for plastic bottles “but come at a cost”, the European Court of Auditors has warned. In a report on EU action to tackle the issue of...
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Deep Sagar to succeed Phil Conran as ACP chair
Deep Sagar, has been appointed as the new Chair of the government’s Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP). Mr Sagar, 61, takes up the post this month succeeding Phil Conran, who has served as ACP...
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Film ‘significant’ to meeting targets, says Defra
Tackling plastic film will play “a really significant part” in reaching the recycling targets set out in the government’s Resources and Waste Strategy, a senior Defra official has said. Chris Preston,...
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Government publishes Brexit export guidance
The UK government has published a guidance document on import and exports with the EU that will commence from 1 January. The guidance included information on checks at ports, and the import/export of...
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Biffa and Veolia among UKRI-backed plastics projects
Research funding totalling £20 million has been announced for a set of UK projects to develop plastics recycling. The projects are a mix of approaches to recycling plastics, several involving chemical...
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PackFlow finds recycling targets ‘achievable’
Packaging waste recycling and recovery targets for 2020 through to 2022 are “broadly achievable” according to updated PackFlow reports published this week. But, the reports caution that the targets...
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WRAP caught up in degradable plastics row
More than 40 organisations including retailers and trade associations have written an open letter calling for a ban on plastics containing additives to make them degrade. The open letter, sent to the...
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WRAP clarifies stance on degradable plastics PAS
The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) says its presence on the steering committee of a new specification (PAS) for measuring the biodegradability of polyolefins should not be taken as an...
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EA consults on ‘default building’ rule for waste sites
EXCLUSIVE: A new default rule which could see more waste operations having to take place in an “enclosed building” is causing concern within the waste management sector. The building proposal, which...
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OPINION: Oxo-biodegradable plastic and bans
OPINION: Michael Stephen is a barrister, former MP, and director of Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc, a company which develops additives for biodegradable plastics. In this article he discusses...
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Recycling minister backs reusable face masks
The recycling minister has backed the use of reusable face coverings, away from healthcare and PPE uses, to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. The comments from minister Rebecca Pow come in the wake...
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Draft plastic packaging tax legislation published
HM Revenue & Customs has published draft legislation and a policy paper on the ‘Introduction of a new plastic packaging tax’ which will take effect from April 2022. The tax could have the most...
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Pow addresses biodegradable plastic row
Recycling minister Rebecca Pow has said she is “concerned” claims about the biodegradability of plastic-based products could cause “environmental harm”. Mrs Pow was responding in a written answer on 12...
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UKRI invests £8m into plastic waste projects
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has awarded £8 million of funding to ten university-led research projects that aim to tackle plastic waste in the UK. The leg of funding comes from the £60 million...
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Shake up at Viridor as Piddington replaced
Viridor has confirmed Kevin Bradshaw as its new chief executive, succeeding Phil Piddington. Viridor CEO Kevin Bradshaw, who joined in September 2020 Mr Bradshaw, 51, joined Viridor in September 2020....
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Garnier launches shampoo bars to cut plastic
L’Oréal’s Garnier brand has announced that it has today (20 November) launched a range of shampoo bars in the UK to offer consumers alternatives to liquid shampoo products in plastic bottles. The bars...
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Agency in ‘consent’ warning for waste plastics exports
Farmers, agricultural businesses and waste companies are being urged by the Environment Agency to check their waste management processes or face enforcement action. The call comes from what the Agency...
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RECOUP predicts lockdown rise in plastics recycling
Changes to UK citizens’ lifestyles during the Covid-19 pandemic have led to a “significant rise” in plastics recycling rates, recycling charity RECOUP said in its annual household plastics collection...
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PepsiCo pledges 100% rPET bottles in UK by 2022
Food and beverage giant PepsiCo has vowed to remove all virgin plastic from its Pepsi bottles in the UK and eight other countries by 2022. The company says it will package the entire range of beverages...
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‘Britain’s first’ plastic-free takeaway cup launched
“Britain’s first” fully plastic-free and recyclable takeaway cup was launched in partnership with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) on 2 December. The ButterflyCup is initially being unveiled at...
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