High energy prices saw ‘record amount’ of waste wood processed in 2022

Greenzone industry news

An increase in the amount of waste wood sent to biomass plants in 2022 meant there was a “record amount” of waste wood processed in the UK, annual statistics published by the Wood Recyclers’ Association (WRA) have shown.  The figures show the amount of waste wood processed in the UK rose from 4.17 million tonnes in […]

Defra sets mandatory interim waste targets for 2028

Greenzone industry news

As part of its five-year Environmental Improvement Plan, the government has set new interim targets for 2028 to reduce different types of waste, including plastic, glass, metal, paper and food. The plan commits the government to halving residual waste (excluding “major” mineral waste) produced per person by 2042. For the purposes of the target, the […]

Greenzone Strives For Excellence

Greenzone is proud to announce that we have successfully recertified for ISO 9001 and 14001, and have also achieved ISO 27001 and 45001, with all audits resulting in zero non-conformances. ISO 9001 is the international standard for quality management systems, and it provides a framework for an effective quality management system to help organisations meet […]

New Year’s Honours: King Charles recognises environmental sector

His Royal Highness King Charles has recognised the importance of the environmental sector in his first New Year’s Honours list. On 31 December, it was announced that former CEO of Suez and member of the Chartered Institution of Waste Management (CIWM) David Palmer-Jones was awarded an OBE for services to recycling. Following the announcement John […]

‘Creative Innovation’ theme for Global Recycling Day 2023

The Global Recycling Foundation has unveiled ‘creative innovation’ as its theme for its flagship Global Recycling Day, taking place on 18 March. Now in its fourth year, the foundation will run a competition to mark the day called ‘Recycling Heroes 2023’. Nominated businesses that have “continued to recycle during one of the toughest economic periods” […]

Biffa sets out blueprint for how the waste sector can achieve net zero

Greenzone industry news

A new report by Biffa says there is a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity for the UK to make an £18 billion investment in dozens of new onshore recycling and energy facilities that will deliver the country’s ambitions for a net zero, circular economy. Improving the recyclability of household packaging, banning plastic waste exports and increasing surplus food […]

‘Join the fight against zombie batteries’ urges ESA

The Environmental Services Association (ESA) has relaunched its ‘Take Charge’ recycling campaign, as resurrected battery fires continue to haunt household waste recycling centres (HWRCs). Executive director Jacob Hayler said “Since we first launched ‘Take Charge‘ in 2020, the number of battery fires at recycling and waste facilities unfortunately seems to have risen considerably, and is […]

New research “major step” toward perpetually recyclable plastic

New research from CU Boulder, published in Nature Chemistry, details how a class of durable plastics widely used in the aerospace and microelectronics industries can be chemically broken down into their most basic building blocks and then formed once again into the same material. CU Boulder says this is a major step in the development […]

Liz Truss appoints new Defra & BEIS secretaries in reshuffle

Following Truss being confirmed as the UK’s Prime Minister, she began a broad reshuffle of cabinet positions. This includes the appointment of Ranil Jayawardena as the Secretary of State for Defra. Following Truss being confirmed as the UK’s Prime Minister, she began a broad reshuffle of cabinet positions. This includes the appointment of Ranil Jayawardena […]

Defra warns against a “blanket zero-tolerance” approach to issuing litter penalties

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) urged councils in June this year (2022) to be “targeted and proportionate” when using litter enforcement powers as it today (26 August) publishes its latest litter strategy update. The letter, sent from former Environment Secretary Jo Churchill, cites enforcement guidance, which advises on best practice for […]

Earth Overshoot Day 2022: Circular businesses are reversing overshoot

This year’s Earth Overshoot Day is on 28 July, which means from 1 January until this day, humanity has demanded as much from nature as the planet’s ecosystems can renew in a year. However, the organisers behind the awareness day say circular businesses are reversing overshoot. Earth Overshoot Day (EOD) organisers say the day is […]

Companies making shift to circular business models want more government help

Companies making the change from linear to circular business models, aimed at keeping products in use for much longer, want more help from the government, according to a new Green Alliance report. Circular Business: What companies need to make the switch calls on government to set mandatory reporting requirements for companies on emissions embedded in their […]