Controversial plans for a new waste incinerator near Belfast have been blocked by a High Court ruling today following concerted efforts by campaigners and local residents.

Electoral Commissioner Dame Sue Bruce is to chair an advisory group established to provide Scottish Ministers with advice on sustainability matters.

A new initiative to help SMEs in Edinburgh identify and maximise circular economy opportunities has been launched today in a joint endeavour by Zero Waste Scotland and the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.

International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), now in its 24th year, is a comprehensive educational initiative by the worldwide compost industry to raise awareness of the benefits of organics recycling.

The Welsh Government wants to make it easier to access free drinking water across the country to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics, while an extra £15 million of funding will be allocated to local authorities to boost recycling rates.

Alderney’s States Works Department has contracted Somerset-based recycling machinery specialist Middleton Engineering to supply and install a new closed-end, semi-automatic baler at its Glacis recycling centre.

Northern Ireland’s recycling rate for the last three months of 2017 has jumped to 47.1 per cent, an increase of five points on the same period in 2016, which Daera attributes to new food waste regulations.

The maximum on-the-spot fine for littering and graffiti has been almost doubled from £80 to £150 as the government cracks down on this anti-social and environmentally damaging behaviour.

The Environment Agency (EA) will be providing waste enforcement officers with body cameras to tackle incidents of abuse as a new raft of waste crime powers comes into force.

Refuse collectors in Slough could be balloted on potential strike action following the suspension of a senior steward over a dispute about where workers are allowed to eat their lunch.