Environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth and savings site VoucherCodes.co.uk have assessed the sustainability of Christmas crackers from a range of high-street retailers.

Paul Vanston, CEO of the Industry Council for Packaging and the Environment (INCPEN), calls on the resources and waste industry to be bold in its actions to combat climate change and advance the circular economy in 2020.

Today (16 December) marks the start of the North London Waste Authority’s (NLWA) dry mixed recycling contract with Biffa, although NLWA has withdrawn its contract with Bywaters.

Flintshire County Council could be set to introduce fines for residents that do not recycle their waste properly as part of a stronger approach to recycling enforcement.

The European Commission’s European Green Deal includes proposals to introduce an EU-wide model for the separate collection of waste and rules on minimum recycled content, promising a step change in the EU’s approach to resources and waste.

Significant changes are underway in the resources and waste sector that will have a deep impact on material recycling facilities (MRFs). Rob Cole reports.

West Sussex County Council has announced that it will be ending payments of recycling credits to District and Borough Councils from 1 April 2020, claiming the system has ‘not driven any significant improvement in performance’.

Recycling Technologies has joined forces with energy company Total and global brands Nestlé and Mars to develop an industrial chemical recycling industry in France.

The European Bioplastics annual market data update has confirmed that the bioplastics industry is set to grow over the next five years, though production levels pale in comparison to those of primary plastic production.

Annual November savings event, Black Friday, encourages excessive consumerism but this year organisations are promoting creative making, upcycling and repairing to bring communities together and reduce environmental damage.