Recycling news: 2023
Fresh every day from industry press, GOV.UK and research feeds — plus the historical archive. Last updated 2 Aug 2026.
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Industry news
Greenwich cuts contamination by 10.7% after ‘bin-tagging’
The London borough of Greenwich says contamination fell by 10.7% in the first full month of a ‘bin-tagging’ campaign launched in November 2022. The council rolled out the scheme as part of its ‘zero waste’ ambitions, which meant contaminated bins were not collected and instead a warning sticker was placed on them. After three incidents, … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 7 Feb 2023
Policy & government
Environmental Improvement Plan 2023
Our delivery plan for the environment, building a greener, more prosperous country.
GOV.UK · 7 Feb 2023
Industry news
Grant for innovative projects to create new or improved clean energy access in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia or the Indo-Pacific regions
Innovate UK will open a competition on the 27th of february to accelerate the innovations needed to create new or improved clean energy access in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia or the Indo-Pacific regions. The proposal must focus on: improving energy access in Official Development Assistance (ODA) eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Indo-Pacific regions having…
ADBA (Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association) · 7 Feb 2023
Council news
Brown’s Field Community Centre - Cambridge City Council
Cambridge Council · 7 Feb 2023
Industry news
How can deep ocean microbes thrive without sunlight?
Evidence is questioning the idea that deep ocean microbes are fuelled through sunlight photosynthesis by suggesting hydrogen and carbon monoxide may have more significance than previously thought.
Open Access Government — Environment · 7 Feb 2023
Industry news
Sunderland approves Quantafuel’s ‘plastic to oil’ plant
Chemical recycling firm Quantafuel has received planning permission from Sunderland city council for a 110,000 tonnes capacity plant which it says will turn plastic waste from the region into oil. The plant will be built on land at the Port of Sunderland and forms part of Quantafuel’s plans to build “a series of plastic recycling … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 7 Feb 2023
Industry news
Biffa to build £7.7m DRS counting centre in Aberdeen
Biffa has unveiled plans for a £7.7 million counting centre in Aberdeen, forming part of a network of facilities which will sort and bale materials collected via the deposit return scheme (DRS). The 40,000 tonnes per year capacity facility will count and bale DRS collected packaging which will then be sold for recycling. Scotland is … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 7 Feb 2023
Industry news
ESA welcomes tightening of waste exemptions regime
Moves to tighten the waste exemptions regime in England and Wales have been welcomed by the Environmental Services Association (ESA), which represents the waste management sector. The changes to the regime were announced yesterday (6 February 2023) by environment minister Rebecca Pow (see letsrecycle.com story). The head of Regulation at the ESA, Sam Corp, said: … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 7 Feb 2023
Industry news
Report: Single-use plastic production increasing, with dire climate consequences
Despite rising awareness of the plastic pollution issue and more regulation on single-use plastics items in many markets, global production has risen since 2019 and recycling has not scaled in turn.
edie — Circular Economy tag · 7 Feb 2023
Global
Talk the walk: industry calls on policies to support the inevitable clean heat transition
For the third year in row, the heating and cooling industry is sending positive signals about a green energy transition. Without prompts from legislation, companies have […]
European Environmental Bureau · 7 Feb 2023
Council news
Sign in to your Dorset Council account - Dorset Council
Dorset Council Council · 7 Feb 2023
Global
New fact sheet on Digital DRS
In this new fact sheet, Reloop provides an update on recent developments in DDRS, including an update on DDRS trials.
Reloop Platform · 7 Feb 2023
Industry news
The use of Trommels in Waste
In the solid-waste processing industries, a trommel is a type of screening apparatus. It makes use of the principle of centrifugal force to remove coarse materials from smaller ones and separate them from each other. Not just Trommels in waste, Trommels are used in a wide variety of applications, including both industrial and agricultural operations....
Skip & Waste Magazine · 6 Feb 2023
Industry news
Mazars to administer WEEE compliance fee again in 2022
Ministers have approved a proposal from the Joint Trade Association (JTA) for the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) compliance fee methodology for 2022. The fee is an alternative mechanism used by compliance schemes and obligated business if they have insufficient recycling evidence to meet their WEEE collection targets for the year. A methodology proposed … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 6 Feb 2023
Industry news
Food waste collections ‘biggest contributor’ to reducing sector emissions
Separate food waste collections are the waste sector’s “biggest contributor” towards reducing its emissions, according to Defra minister Lord Benyon. Lord Benyon made the claim when answering a written question last week (3 February). The question was posed by Lord Taylor of Warwick, who asked what steps were being taken to reduce any adverse effects … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 6 Feb 2023
Industry news
Flos joins ultra-minimal trend with stark table lamp
Italian lighting design giant Flos has joined the trend towards minimalist luminaires with the launch of a range of adhesive-free […]
Recolight · 6 Feb 2023
Industry news
Designer unveils electricity-free light
A Tokyo-based product designer has unveiled a softly-glowing light which uses no electricity or battery. Instead, a specially treated ‘light-collecting’ […]
Recolight · 6 Feb 2023
Industry news
Fagerhult luminaire reuses reflectors from old TV sets
Fagerhult has unveiled Kvisten, a luminaire whose reflectors are made from discarded television sets. It’s made from 77 per cent […]
Recolight · 6 Feb 2023
Industry news
BREAKING: Shell threatens Greenpeace protestors with jail and fines, but legal tactics fail as Greenpeace sends second boat and more climbers to occupy oil platform
Action photos and video available here. Shell has attempted to silence Greenpeace International’s peaceful occupation of its oil and gas platform at sea by hitting the campaign group with an injunction late on Friday [FEB 3] – threatening up to two years’ jail time and fines [1]. But today, Shell’s heavy-handed legal tactics failed, as […]
Greenpeace UK · 6 Feb 2023
Industry news
Waste volumes down 9.5% in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland’s recycling rate for local authority collected municipal waste fell by 0.8% in the third quarter of 2022 to 51.5%, government statistics have shown, while waste volumes fell by 9.5%. The provisional statistics for July to September 2022 were published in a report by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) on … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 6 Feb 2023
Policy & government
Government moves ahead with plans to crack down on illegal waste
Reforms to crack down on dangerous waste cowboys and illegal practices.
GOV.UK · 6 Feb 2023
Industry news
Minister Pow heralds waste exemption changes
Details of changes to the waste exemptions regime for England and Wales have today (6 February) been published following a consultation launched in 2018. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the reforms would “crack down on dangerous waste cowboys and illegal practices” and provide for “greater scrutiny of activities at waste … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 6 Feb 2023
Policy & government
Bellwin scheme: guidance notes for claims
These guidance notes set out the terms under which the department will make emergency financial assistance available to local authorities.
GOV.UK · 6 Feb 2023
Industry news
OPINION: The circular economy and the important role we all play
OPINION: The reuse and recycling of textiles and other items is an essential part of the circular economy, explains Chelsea Ihezie of West London-based Choice Textile. OPINION: The circular economy is an economic system in which resources are used, reused, and recycled in a closed loop to minimize waste and pollution. This approach to economic … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 6 Feb 2023
Industry news
Veolia ‘delighted’ to continue working with Brent
French-owned waste management company Veolia says it is “delighted” to continue working with the north-west London borough of Brent. Letsrecycle.com reported last week (3 February) that Brent council had awarded Veolia an initial eight-year contract worth £17.1 million per annum to carry out waste and recycling collections, continuing a partnership between the pair which began … Read More The p…
letsrecycle.com News · 6 Feb 2023
Industry news
Lower waste volumes sees ELWA report £7m underspend
The East London Waste Authority (ELWA) recorded an underspend of £7.16 million the first eight months of the 2021/22 financial year, as a result of tonnage levels being 10.5% below forecasted levels. ELWA is responsible for the disposal of waste from the London boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge. The underspend was … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 6 Feb 2023
Research & science
Rescuing small plastics from the waste stream
PhD student Alexis Hocken is working with manufacturers to keep their products from (literally) falling through the cracks in the recycling process.
MIT News — Recycling topic · 5 Feb 2023
Industry news
The Legacy Continues For The First Black Owned McDonalds - McDonald’s Corporation
McDonald's UK newsroom · 5 Feb 2023
Council news
Mobile libraries - Wiltshire Council
Wiltshire Council · 4 Feb 2023
Council news
Parking Consultations - London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
Hammersmith and Fulham Council · 4 Feb 2023
Global
An Open Letter to the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the Philippines
We, the undersigned alliances and organizations, are deeply concerned about the integrity of the statements recently released by the Japan International Cooperation Agency for its lack of accountability on past […]
GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives) · 4 Feb 2023
Research & science
Author Guidelines - Polymer Composites - Wiley & Sons
Journal of Industrial Ecology (Wiley) · 4 Feb 2023
Global
Negotiations, World-cup glory & Industry Agendas
The first intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC-1) to end plastic pollution By Merrisa Naidoo (GAIA/BFFP Africa Plastics Campaigner) After more than thirty hours of flying and four connecting flights later, I […]
GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives) · 4 Feb 2023
Industry news
Martec Environmental Consultants Ltd - Agg-Net
Agg-Net · 3 Feb 2023
Industry news
Legislation – Your Guide To Customer Engagement
Explore the benefits of QR codes in enhancing customer engagement and promoting sustainability with Polytag. Our innovative solutions allow businesses to create branded landing pages, gain unique analytics, and support Digital Deposit Return Schemes. QR codes offer a versatile, space-efficient way to connect with customers and meet sustainability goals. Learn more about how Polytag's QR code te…
Polytag news · 3 Feb 2023
Industry news
Sign up to our newsletter - Surfers Against Sewage
Surfers Against Sewage · 3 Feb 2023
Industry news
Scottish EfW review calls for plastic incineration ban
An independent review conducted by Dr Colin Church has recommended that the Scottish government put in place measures to end the incineration of plastic at energy from waste (EfW) plants by 2030. The recommendation was made in the second report by Dr Church into the role of incineration in Scotland, commissioned by the government. The … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 3 Feb 2023
Industry news
Derbyshire councils to repair and reopen Sinfin EfW plant
Derbyshire county and Derby city councils voted on 2 February to repair the failed Sinfin gasification plant and use it to treat residents’ residual waste. In 2009, Resource Recovery Solutions (RRS), a partnership between infrastructure firm Interserve and waste management company Renewi, signed a 27-year, £900 million waste treatment contract with the councils, which included … Read More The p…
letsrecycle.com News · 3 Feb 2023
Policy & government
Digital technology in freight
Technology and data enabled opportunities are key priorities in the Department for Transport’s Future of Freight Plan. This POSTnote reviews digital technologies that support freight, including their impact on the labour force, potential environmental benefits and technical barriers.
POST (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology) · 3 Feb 2023
Council news
Voter ID - St Helens Borough Council
St. Helens Council · 3 Feb 2023