VE Day: Council duties under the Armed Forces Covenant
As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Geoff Wild, Legal & Governance Consultant, looks at the duties of councils under the Armed Forces Covenant.
Call for kerbside collections amidst battery-fire crisis
28/04/2025 Universal kerbside collections for waste batteries and electricals across the UK could save £6bn by boosting recycling and tackling the battery fire 'epidemic'. |
Vent-Axia Supports Global Recycling Day 2025
18/03/2025 Leading British ventilation manufacturer Vent-Axia celebrated Global Recycling Day, which took place on 18 March 2025. |
Digital waste tracking postponed one year
07/02/2025 The implementation of digital waste tracking is to be delayed until April 2026 due to the ‘complexities of the project’, according to the Government. |
One in 10 councils considering bin collection cuts
05/02/2025 Forty-two local authorities – or one in 10 – are considering cuts to waste collection services, new data reveals. |
Who’s leading the way on waste reduction and food climate action?
30/01/2025 Annie Pickering, operations director at Climate Emergency UK, looks at which councils are leading the way when it comes to helping residents reduce waste. |
Deposit Return Scheme legislation comes into force
27/01/2025 Legislation for a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers in England and Northern Ireland has come into force today. |
Campaigners warn of ‘vapocalypse’
16/12/2024 The number of vape products being thrown out or recycled incorrectly every week has risen from five million last year to an estimated 8.2 million. |
Simpler Recycling: Households to be issued with four bins
29/11/2024 Local authorities are set to issue households with up to four bins as a default to separate their waste and recycling. |
Councils call for full waste service costs under EPR
23/10/2024 Council bosses have urged the Government to ensure local authorities receive the full costs for delivering waste and recycling services under new packaging reforms. |
Recycling Week: The disposable vapes challenge
15/10/2024 Scott Butler, executive director of Material Focus, looks at the recycling challenge the surge in disposable vapes poses for local authorities. |
Recycling Week: The pass down of ETS costs to councils
14/10/2024 LARAC chair Cathy Cook discusses the impact on local authorities of the proposed expansion of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). |
Recycling Week: New government, new direction?
14/10/2024 Lee Marshall, Director of Innovation and Technical Services at CIWM, considers what the new Government means for the waste and recycling sector. |
Council to close tip amid £7m improvement costs
23/08/2024 Kirklees Council is set to close a household waste recycling centre (HWRC) to cut costs after discovering that work needed on the site would cost £7m. |
Cleaner streets: sorting out the good ideas from the rubbish ones
21/08/2024 Beau Zilesnick from the environmental charity Hubbub, which collaborates with councils to run behaviour change campaigns, picks up six key litter lessons. |
‘Massive disparities’ in number of bins councils collect
20/08/2024 There are ‘massive disparities’ in the number of bins that UK councils ask residents to sort their rubbish into, a new survey has revealed. |
Tower Hamlets tops list of worst recyclers
15/07/2024 The London borough of Tower Hamlets is the worst area for recycling in England, new research has revealed. |
Thousands of bins missed as council rolls out new service
19/06/2024 Denbighshire County Council has apologised after waste from thousands of households was not collected as a new recycling service was rolled out. |
Biffa sues Scottish Government for £55m over DRS
16/05/2024 Biffa has confirmed it is taking legal action against the Scottish Government for losses incurred after the scrapping of the deposit return scheme (DRS). |
Government advisers urge overhaul of infrastructure funding
16/05/2024 Councils should be given more funding to play a greater role in developing infrastructure projects, according to Government advisers. |
Simpler Recycling: Recyclables to be collected in one bin
09/05/2024 Councils will be able to collect recyclables, such as plastic, metal, glass, paper, and card, in one container as part of the Simpler Recycling reforms. |
DRS roll-out set for 2027
25/04/2024 The nationwide roll-out of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) will begin in 2027, according to the Government. |
Council eyes cutting back rubbish collection
02/04/2024 A council could reduce how often it picks up household rubbish that cannot be recycled or composted to once a month despite Government proposals. |
Councils get £295m boost for food waste collections
26/03/2024 Councils in England will share up to £295m in funding to help them introduce weekly food waste collections, Recycling Minister Robbie Moore has announced. |
Coffee pod recycling scheme hits million milestone
27/02/2024 An initiative run by Cherwell District Council has seen more than a million coffee pods – weighing 16.4 tonnes – recycled in eight months. |
Councils call for ‘autonomy’ under EPR
26/02/2024 Councils must still have the autonomy to run waste services according to local need under new packaging reforms, the Local Government Association has said. |
Two thirds of councils expect to miss waste reform deadline
15/02/2024 Councils have urged Government to reconsider its ‘unrealistic’ waste reform deadline after research found authorities face shortfalls to fund the changes. |
MPs at odds with public on packaging measures
17/01/2024 Appetite for government intervention to reduce the use of packaging, either through taxes or bans, is lower among MPs than with the public, new research has found. |
Councils banned from charging for small-scale DIY waste disposal
02/01/2024 Local authorities in England are no longer able to charge households to leave small-scale DIY waste at recycling centres in a move aimed at tacking fly-tipping. |
Wales passes workplace recycling law
08/12/2023 New Workplace Recycling Regulations have been passed in Wales, which will require all businesses to separate recyclable materials. |
Simpler Recycling: The implications for local authorities
04/12/2023 Lee Marshall, Policy and External Affairs Director, CIWM looks at the Government’s recycling reforms and what they mean for local authorities. |
Oxfordshire councils install vape recycling bins
04/12/2023 Three local authorities in Oxfordshire have joined forces to install 60 new recycling collection points for vapes across the county. |
'Lack of clarity' puts recycling reforms at risk
01/12/2023 A ‘lack of clarity’ around the Government’s recycling reforms is preventing councils from preparing for the upcoming changes, according to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). |
Sheffield food waste collections delayed by 15 years
16/11/2023 A plan for weekly food waste collections from homes in Sheffield could be delayed by up to 15 years. |
Councils welcome waste reform flexibility but await details on costs
23/10/2023 Councils were relieved not to lose all local discretion in the Government’s waste collection reforms but have said questions remain, including over funding. |
Solving the UK’s 'wishcycling' problem
09/10/2023 Chris Williams, founder and CEO of UK cleantech ISB Global sets out how to fix the confusing state of recycling in the UK. |
Seven bins? The future of consistent collections
04/10/2023 Lee Marshall, CIWM, looks at the Government’s claims to be scrapping the much-fabled ‘seven bins’ policy and the future of the consistent collections reform. |
Liverpool proposes to insource waste collections
03/10/2023 Liverpool City Council is to bring its waste collection service in-house in a bid to improve recycling rates. |
Concern companies not aware of single-use plastics ban
28/09/2023 The Local Government Association (LGA) has raised concerns that businesses may not know about the ban on certain single-use plastic items. |
Screeching U-turn on waste proposals
21/09/2023 The Government has claimed it is scrapping its ‘top-down approach’ on recycling while still ensuring ‘all homes in England recycle the same materials’. |
Nottinghamshire waste staff to strike
15/09/2023 The GMB union has announced a week-long strike at waste recycling plants in Nottinghamshire. |
'Clarity' promised on waste reforms
12/09/2023 More certainty on the Government’s waste reform programme has been promised after mandarins were taken to task over delays. |
Number of vapes discarded each week soars to five million
08/09/2023 Five million single-use vapes are thrown away in the UK every week, an almost four-fold increase on last year, according to research from Material Focus. |
EPR scheme payments may come as late as December 2025
17/08/2023 Councils may not receive their first payments under the new extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme until as late as December 2025, The MJ has learnt. |
Recycled soil used to create Liverpool’s largest park
08/08/2023 Liverpool City Council has used recycled soil from a former landfill site to create one of the largest transformed urban green spaces in England. |
The cost of the EPR delay
02/08/2023 Steve Palfrey, chair of ADEPT’s Waste Group, looks at the implications for councils of the delay in implementing extended producer responsibility (EPR). |
Councils call for urgent clarity after further EPR delay
25/07/2023 Council chiefs have called for ‘clear timelines’ on waste policy after the Government announced a further delay to extended producer responsibility (EPR). |
Councils call for ban of disposable vapes
17/07/2023 Council chiefs have called on the Government to ban disposable e-cigarettes over concerns about their impact on the environment and young people. |
Watchdog warns councils still in dark on waste reforms
30/06/2023 The Government ‘still lacks effective long-term plans to reduce waste,’ according to a watchdog’s new report. |
Retailers criticise ‘extended producer responsibility’ scheme
02/06/2023 A plan to make food manufacturers pay councils for the collection and recycling of packaging waste is facing opposition from retailers and manufacturers. |
North Somerset Council trials innovative bins
16/05/2023 North Somerset Council is claiming a first with an innovative new way to collect recycling and waste. |
Reusing household items could save £63m a year
24/04/2023 Councils should take the lead in encouraging the reuse of household items to help save millions of pounds a year, a waste management company has said. |
The recycling system is in need of an overhaul – so what’s the solution?
19/04/2023 Dr Helen Holmes, lecturer in Sociology at the University of Manchester’s Sustainable Consumption Institute, looks at how the recycling system can be reformed. |
‘Postcode lottery’ undermines plastic recycling
29/03/2023 People are being put off recycling their plastic because of the complexity of messaging and varying systems in different places, according to a new report. |
Top five recycling councils all districts
27/03/2023 District councils are leading the way in recycling waste, new Government figures suggest. |
Islington council to invest £2m to improve recycling facilities
16/03/2023 Recycling facilities on estates across the borough of Islington are set to benefit from £2m of council investment. |
Three-weekly waste collections boosts Mid Devon’s recycling rates
24/02/2023 The recycling rates in Mid Devon have increased in the first three months since three-weekly waste collections were introduced, the council has reported. |
£165,000 fund available to make Liverpool a ‘greener place’
20/02/2023 Community groups across Liverpool City Region are able to bid for a share of a £165,000 fund as part of a push to make the area a ‘cleaner and greener place’. |
Buying less vs recycling more
31/01/2023 Buying less rather than recycling more is the best way to save the environment, argues Allison Ogden-Newton, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy. |
Deposit Return Scheme: further clarification needed
31/01/2023 Steve Palfrey, chair of ADEPT's Waste Group, discusses the Government's response to the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and calls for further clarification. |
Council chiefs call for more focus on waste reduction
23/01/2023 Council leaders have called on the Government to prioritise plans to reduce the amount of waste produced rather than focusing on recycling schemes. |
New fears emerge of ‘sofa mountains’
06/01/2023 Recycling experts have called on the Government to step in amid warnings that a crackdown on disposal of upholstered furniture could lead to ‘sofa mountains’. |
Council celebrates zero-landfill month
18/10/2022 North East Lincolnshire Council is celebrating after making it through September without sending any waste to landfill. |
Recycling week: The advantages of anaerobic digestion
17/10/2022 Pamela Woolcock, group public sector lead, BioteCH argues that anaerobic digestion (AD) is the most sustainable process of recycling food waste. |
Recycling projects in Scotland to receive £3.4m boost
29/07/2022 Three Scottish councils are set to receive a boost in their recycling services thanks to a £3.4m investment from Holyrood’s Recycling Improvement Fund. |
Greenwich council reduces waste collections in move to net zero
30/06/2022 Greenwich council is reducing the number of waste collections it offers as part of the effort to cut carbon emissions and increase the rate of recycling. |
Portsmouth council set to bring waste services in house
22/06/2022 Portsmouth City Council’s domestic household waste and recycling collection service is set to be delivered in house following a cabinet decision yesterday. |
Changes to food waste collection and recycling: What actions do councils need to take?
17/05/2022 Ben Thomson, solicitor at Ashfords, looks at what actions councils need to take in light of the changes to food waste collection and recycling. |
Government misses 50% recycling target
12/05/2022 More than 100,000 extra tonnes of rubbish was sent to landfill during lockdown, the latest figures reveal as Government misses 50% recycling target. |
Red diesel ban ‘tangible threat’ to waste strategy
18/03/2022 The Chancellor has been warned that the red diesel ban is ‘counter intuitive’ and presents ‘a tangible threat’ to the Government’s waste strategy. |
The case for keeping co-mingled collections while boosting food waste recycling rates
09/03/2022 Simon Christian explores how new technology can help local authorities increase the amount of household food waste they collect – without completely overhauling their current waste collection regime. |
Councils demand to know more about deposit return scheme
09/02/2022 Councils are unsure about the full implications of deposit return schemes ahead of their rollout, according to new research. |
Council to bring waste and recycling centres in-house
16/12/2021 Kirklees Council will bring Household Waste and Recycling Centres in-house as part of an effort to give the council more control over public-facing services. |
Scottish councils awarded £13m to boost recycling
06/12/2021 The Scottish government today announced a multi-million-pound investment into local authorities to help boost the quantity and quality of recycling. |
Council sets up ‘arms-length’ business to deliver key services
03/12/2021 East Suffolk Council is to create a Local Authority Trading Company (LATCo) to help it deliver key council services. |
District boosts pay to tackle shortage of bin drivers
05/10/2021 South Holland District Council has agreed to increase pay for its waste and recycling teams in response to the national shortage of drivers. |
Councils forced to suspend waste services due to staff shortages
20/07/2021 Several local authorities have been forced to reduce or suspend waste and recycling services due to staff having to self-isolate and a national shortage of drivers. |
We must seize the opportunity to accelerate a circular economy
25/06/2021 Victoria Lawson argues that moving to a circular economy could tackle the climate crisis, shorten supply chains, support new green jobs and encourage more connected and resilient communities. |
Council invests over £1m in mobile household recycling centres
16/06/2021 Birmingham City Council has invested £1.4m in a pilot project that will see a fleet of mobile household recycling centres (MHRCs) rolled out across the city. |
Council ‘outraged’ by Unite decision to continue bin strike
14/05/2021 Thurrock Council has said that it is ‘disappointed’ workers in the local authority’s waste and recycling department have decided to continue pay strike. |
New measures to boost recycling rates
07/05/2021 New proposals to increase the amount of household waste being recycled have been unveiled by the Government today. |
Digital map reveals 'lacklustre recycling growth'
26/04/2021 Recycling rates have plateaued in England and Scotland for the fifth consecutive year according to a new interactive digital map of local authority recycling data. |
Non-recyclable packaging costs councils £48m per year
29/03/2021 Packaging manufacturers are not doing enough to stop producing non-recyclable packaging or to contribute to the costs of disposal, council chiefs say. |
The importance of sustainable waste management strategies for the UK's local authorities
26/03/2021 Peter Vernon sustainable waste management strategies in the context of wheelie-bin procurement and improved recycling rates. |
Three Rivers tops recycling league
04/03/2021 Three Rivers DC in Hertfordshire has climbed to become the highest performing authority in England for household waste recycling, according to official government figures. |
Councillors warn standardised collections will result in waste and recycling charges
09/02/2021 Residents may be forced to carry the cost of introducing standardised waste and recycling collections in England, a survey of local councillors has warned. |
How schools can combat waste
22/12/2020 Michael Taylor, general manager at Skip Hire UK, looks at how schools can combat waste. |
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Survey shows public trusts councils more than Government on COVID
30/11/2020 The findings of a new opinion poll show the public trusts councils more than Government on the response to COVID, says APSE. |
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Household recycling 'soared' during pandemic
19/10/2020 Some councils saw household recycling soar by 100% during the COVID-19 pandemic, council leaders have revealed. |
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An alternative to deposit return schemes
02/06/2020 Deposit return schemes are not the answer to our plastic recycling challenges, argues Matthew Ball. |
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Most councils prepare to open household waste recycling centres
13/05/2020 Nearly all councils are planning on opening Household Waste Recycling Centres in the next two weeks, a survey has revealed. |
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Councils must continue recycling collections to avoid negative environmental impact
07/05/2020 Recycling collections must continue during lockdown or risk longer term damage to our environment says Tim Gent. |
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Fly-tipping soars by 300% since lockdown
01/05/2020 Fly-tipping in rural areas has increased by 300% since the lockdown, new analysis has discovered. |
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Councils prepare to reopen recycling sites
29/04/2020 Councils have been asked to make reopening household waste recycling sites a priority by the Government. |
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Wales to ban ‘hard to recycle’ plastics
18/03/2020 Plastic straws, cutlery and polystyrene food containers are just a few of the items set to be banned as the Welsh government cracks down on single-use plastics. |
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Council chiefs call on mattress companies to ‘recycle own products’
02/03/2020 Local authority leaders are calling for mattress manufacturers to be forced to recycle their own products and offer take-back services to stop them being fly-tipped. |
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Eliminating consumer single use plastics in the workplace
26/02/2020 How CCS can help your organisation achieve environmental goals. |
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Scotland’s bottle deposit scheme should cover other materials, MSPs say
10/12/2019 Scotland’s bottle deposit scheme should include cartons and other plastics, a report has urged today. |
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Colourful bins have ‘significant impact’ on recycling
04/12/2019 A pilot scheme aimed at boosting recycling in Leeds city centre has seen 1.2 million coffee cups recycled in one year. |
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Welsh council tops Recycling Carbon Index
25/11/2019 Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council has been named as the best recycler in the UK in terms of the amount of greenhouse gas emissions it has saved. |
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Councils warn 'unclear' labelling is hindering recycling efforts
07/11/2019 Councils are calling for a series of new measures to help boost recycling rates. |
