Defra has released its second annual ‘Digest of Waste and Resource Statistics’, which collates official UK waste statistics for ‘ease of use’.

Only eight waste collection authorities have implemented changes to meet separate collection requirements for key recyclable materials, according to an Environment Agency report.

The Kent Resource Partnership has been awarded funding of over £110,000 to support its plastics and metals recycling communications.

A plastics economy based on a circular economy approach could ‘transform’ the plastics industry and ‘drastically reduce’ its environmental impact, according to a report by the World Economic Forum and Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

A Manchester waste plastic recycling firm has been made to pay £20,000 after an employee suffered ‘life changing injuries’ to his hand when it was dragged into a granulator machine.

Biochemical producer Anellotech has finished constructing a facility designed to produce 100 per cent bio-based plastic drinks bottles for Suntory Holdings Ltd.

A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including a plastics recycling educational programme, treecycling and thousands of plastic bottles washing up on the Cornish coast.

Industry bodies have given their views on altered business packaging targets for plastic and glass after a Defra consultation closed last month.

The UK should follow the example of the United States and ban manufacturers from using plastic microbeads in cosmetics and soaps, says Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett.

The Ocean Cleanup organisation plans to deploy a 100 metre-long floating barrier device to test passive technology designed for clearing the oceans of plastic pollution.