Retailers prepare to take back WEEE instore
In a shake-up of recycling obligations, large retailers who have a turnover for sales of electronic equipment in excess of £100,000 will be required to take back WEEE instore from 2021. Previously, retailers who sold electrical goods could pay a fee which covered their recycling obligations under the distributor take-back scheme (DTS). The money was […]
L’Oréal launches solid shampoo bars with ‘zero plastic waste
Garnier is launching a range of shampoo bars in the UK, marking the first move by a major mass market beauty brand to offer consumers ‘alternatives to traditional liquid shampoo products with zero plastic waste’, it says. The bars are packaged in 100% recyclable FSC certified cardboard, blended with 94% plant-based ingredients and are ‘97% […]
Packaging waste targets issued for 2021-22
Defra has published the packaging waste recycling targets for businesses for 2021 and 2022. And, it has confirmed that there will be no recovery targets, with the consequence that recovery evidence will not be needed from energy from waste plants from next year. Initial reaction to the targets, published this morning (9 November) and seen […]
Zero Waste Awards relaunched
First set up in 2010, the scheme has been updated to reflect businesses that aspire to “move waste up the hierarchy” and increase the amount of waste they prevent, reuse and recycle. The scheme is launched by Environment Media Group (EMG), parent company of letsrecycle.com, and represents a community of 500 likeminded businesses. Previous winners […]
Retail industry to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040
The BRC’s new Climate Action Roadmap has outlined strategies to decarbonise the retail sector and its supply chains with five key areas for action. The overall aim is that by 2040 all products that consumers buy or rent will have minimal impact on the environment. These key areas include putting decarbonisation at the core of […]
61% of businesses think green economy presents positive opportunities
New research from The Entrepreneurs Network, in partnership with The Enterprise Trust, finds the majority of entrepreneurs believe the shift to a greener economy represents an opportunity for business and a boost for the economy. The majority of small and medium-sized businesses believe there are financial opportunities in the shift to a greener economy and […]
£134 million boost to help UK businesses ‘build back greener’
Businesses across the UK are set to benefit from £134 million investment, enabling ‘ground-breaking clean growth’ projects develop new technologies and secure new jobs, the Government says. It also says the funding could help to secure and create new jobs across the country. The projects include an initiative to service offshore wind turbines autonomously, use […]
HWRCs ‘should remain open’ in lockdown, Defra says
Defra has confirmed that household waste and recycling centres (HWRCs) “should remain open” during the lockdown, after a visit to a recycling centre was again listed as an ‘exception’ to the restrictions on leaving home. The department said HWRCs should remain open in England line with Defra guidance updated on 12 October, which reiterates that […]
Waste services ‘well prepared’ for lockdown
Waste services in England will not see the same levels of disruption during the second lockdown as were seen in the first, industry leaders have said. This is because many are “better prepared” after facing significant disruption in the spring, but concerns remain over staff which need to self-isolate. In the height of the first […]
BT Group completes switch to 100 per cent renewable power
BT Group has today chalked off a major milestone in its journey towards net zero emissions, confirming that all its network, offices, and shops worldwide are now powered with 100 per cent renewable electricity. The communications giant confirmed it had met its 100 per cent renewables goal – which was set as part of its […]
Leicester’s bus shelters to go green as part of new partnership
Leicester City Council has signed a new 10-year contract with leading out-of-home advertising and infrastructure company Clear Channel UK to replace and manage the city’s 479 bus shelters. Over the next two years, Clear Channel will make a multi-million pound investment into overhauling every bus shelter in Leicester. There will be no cost to the […]
Electric goods ‘should have repairability rating’
From next year, a scheme in France will label phones, fridges, lawnmowers and other items in this way to encourage more environment-friendly purchases. The Liberal Democrats and Green Party want this to be tested in the UK, which has a higher level of electrical waste. Ministers promised to “make it as easy as possible” to […]
