A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including the Welsh recycling rate, cardboard at Lord’s and a Reconomy acquisition.

The National Federation of Retail Newsagents have asked Rory Stewart to consider including small businesses in the carrier bag charge.

Household plastic packaging recycling rates rose by six per cent in 2014/15, according to RECOUP.

WRAP has been named as one of four beneficiaries of Wilko’s carrier bag charge profits.

Certain retailers will begin charging shoppers in England a minimum of five pence for single-use carrier bags today.

A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including the Environment Agency’s new CEO, Brighton Fashion Week and a new structure for Smurfit Kappa.

New Scottish MRF Code of Practice obligations have come into force, with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency vowing to encourage compliance through communication.

A study by the nova-Institute has concluded that natural products such as apricot kernels, beeswax and bio-based and biodegradable polymers could replace microplastics in cosmetics.

The Scottish household waste recycling rate rose to 42.8 per cent in 2014, according to statistics issued today by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including a new community reuse hub, Taylor's new bin reward scheme and a skull found in a HWRC.