Members of the waste and resources industry descended on London this week for two days of discussion on the sector's hot topics. Producer responsibility, stuttering recycling rates, Brexit and a large serving of politics were the major talking points. Here are some of our main takeaways.

Manchester’s recycling rate is set to hit 40 per cent next year, according to the city’s council, which is having to create a new collection calendar following a ‘major boost’ to recycling.

BBC allotment guru Terry Walton has called on all local authorities to install reuse shops at HWRCs at the opening of a reuse shop at Llantrisant Recycling Centre in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.

Scottish manufacturing SMEs with innovative circular economy ideas or projects are being encouraged to access up to £1 million in grant funding to explore sustainable business opportunities and aid the transition to circular business models.

LondonWaste has announced that it is introducing body cameras to be worn by its staff at its re-use and recycling centres following a series of incidents of abuse directed at its employees.

Oxfordshire County Council has signed a £27-million contract with W&S Recycling that will save its entire network of HWRCs for ‘the medium term’ after years of uncertainty over the future of the sites.

Fears about the future of UK environmental regulation and the legal oversight and case law on resources persist on the anniversary of the referendum that kicked off Brexit.

Refuse workers from Birmingham City Council who are part of the Unite union will be striking next Friday and across July and August over job cuts and accusations of financial incompetence on the part of the council.

Conwy County Borough Council has revealed that recycling has increased by 17 per cent since trial four-weekly refuse collections began in September 2016.

Waste services firm Veolia has launched a national coffee cup recycling service for offices after research found that over half of regular takeaway hot drink consumers dispose of their cup at work.