Rory Stewart’s speech at Resourcing the Future 2016 hinted at scaled back ambitions.

A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including an award for edoc, a retirement at WRAP, Cromwell Polythene, MetalMatters and Recolight.

The European Environment Agency has called for stronger resource-efficiency policies to be put in place across Europe, as groups blame Circular Economy Package delay for lack of national action.

Nearly 150 jobs have been saved after troubled waste management company New Earth Solutions Group was purchased yesterday just two days after entering administration.

The Bureau of International Recycling is working to establish the World Council of Recycling Associations to improve communication and cooperation between national bodies.

The REA and LARAC have resolved their differences and jointly called for industry and local authority collaboration in the search for improved government policy around food waste collections.

WasteAid UK, a charity helping to establish waste management processes in developing countries, has won a National Energy Globe Award for its work in The Gambia.

Ambition around reducing waste and improving the quality of recycling should not be sacrificed in the race to set ever higher ‘headline’ targets, says CIWM Chief Executive Steve Lee.

The European Parliament’s Environment Committee has today set out its desired amendments to the Circular Economy Package, including increased recycling targets, the removal of TEEP exemptions to the separate collection of materials and mandatory separate food waste collection.

Veolia has been named as the preferred bidder for an eight-year contract to deliver harmonised waste collection and street cleansing across four boroughs in South London.