Waiting for the Strategy with bated breath Defra’s Resources and Waste Strategy is still due to be published before the end of the year.
Hang on in there, things are looking up for the waste and resource sector Given continuing levels of austerity, budget cuts and general resourcing restrictions, nobody working in the world of waste and resource management should be finding workloads anything other than heavy right now.
Don't let Brexit stand in the way of environmental progress Why are we still waiting? I’m sure my impatience is not unique as another month passes without the release of the Resources and Waste Strategy.
The plastic debate needs to move forward It’s been interesting to follow the twists and turns of the debate around plastics over the years.
Regulation lags behind ambition for chemical recyclers As the mounting scale of pollution from plastic waste reaches ever alarming proportions, chemical recycling processes, turning non-recyclable plastic into reusable fuel, oil and back into plastic, represent a landmark breakthrough in the battle to save the planet’s environment.
Let's put an end to the waste industry 'manel' I have just celebrated my 17th anniversary of starting in the resources and waste industry (wasterversary?).
Why recycling is everybody's business Buzzwords like ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘sustainable’ shouldn’t just apply to households, its time businesses step up to their duty of care over waste.
A huge time for the UK- and it's not just Brexit Will 2019 be remembered – at least by those in the waste industry – for the UK’s new stance on plastic, packaging and other recycling issues?
The UK needs more infrastructure to support a circular economy The announcement by Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond in the Autumn Budget that some of the income from the proposed tax on single-use plastics would be used to “improve the waste system” alongside wider action to tackle litter and single use plastics, is warmly welcomed.
Where will our resource and waste industry head to in 2019? Late October saw Defra launch its consultation on banning the distribution and sale of plastic straws, plastic-stemmed cotton buds and plastic drink stirrers in England
Our impasse with the EU and on waste have to end Brexit, for all its pitfalls, provides the freedom to run our economy, but what kind of economy do we want?
Tax the problem, not the solution, Mr Hammond The Chancellor has an opportunity in the upcoming Budget to set out a tax framework on plastics and recycling that makes the UK a world leader in sustainable resource management.
Conwy controversy shows how far we still need to go Residents’ anger at the Welsh council’s move to provide monthly refuse collections reveals a lack of public engagement and failure of policy – not just locally, but nationally.
We must engage in the discussions, share insights and help shape the future It seems a long time ago, but August was busy this year.
The public must be listened to while we reform our resource strategy I blinked and suddenly the leaves had begun to fall off the trees, I was reaching for my scarf and my walk home from work had got a lot darker.
The best it yet to come for anaerobic digestion For once, food waste is a hot topic. Wonky veg is on the menu and retailers are pledging to reduce food waste all the way from farm to fork.
Ministers must not let our recycling efforts be wasted Despite Parliament being in recess and government slowing down over the summer, the war on waste has not slowed down.
The clock is ticking for a post-Brexit environmental policy While our politicians were enjoying their summer recess, the rest of us were left scratching our heads on the question of the government’s environmental policy post-Brexit thanks to mixed and oblique messages.
Environmental issues need passion It's back to school for our politicians in what will no doubt be a turbulent time given the UK is set to leave the EU in just six months’ time.
How to ensure local authority tendering is effective, affordable and pain free Local authorities have suffered over recent years due to ongoing austerity and have been asked year on year to do more with less.
Impact investing could provide opportunities for the recycling industry When people put plastic into their recycling bins at home they probably assume that all items will be recycled.
Invest wisely to build the waste management facilities of the future It is true to say that the waste management sector has always been at the mercy of ebbs and flows in recycling materials pricing, especially through changes in commodity prices such as oil.
We need a research and innovation fund for bulky waste In June, the government announced plans for a £20 million fund aimed at developing a more sustainable end of life process for plastics.
How global cities can tackle their food waste According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, 1.6 billion tonnes of food is lost and wasted globally every year, inflicting severe environmental and socio-economic damages.
Are we still clutching at straws when it comes to beating plastic pollution? I have just come back from two weeks in Cyprus where I have been trying to ‘down tools’ and relax after what has been a hectic few months in our sector.
Let's put an end to the waste industry 'manel' I have just celebrated my 17th anniversary of starting in the resources and waste ...
Hang on in there, things are looking up for the waste and resource sector Given continuing levels of austerity, budget cuts and general resourcing ...