Recycling and Waste Management Industry News - November 2024

In this blog, we'll dive into the latest developments and news from the recycling and waste management sector.

Our aim is to keep you informed with in-depth analysis, expert opinions, and detailed updates on innovations, policies, and trends shaping the industry.

West Sussex County Council's innovative waste prevention scheme.

West Sussex County Council and Biffa are launching a Waste Prevention Community Grant Fund to support local initiatives to reduce household waste. Starting January 2025, community groups, charities, and social enterprises can apply for grants of up to £5,000 to develop innovative projects targeting waste categories like food, furniture, plastics, textiles, and electricals.

Find out more here

LARAC and TRA call for DRS to be axed.

The Recycling Association (TRA) and the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) are urging the UK government to reconsider the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) following Wales' decision to withdraw from the joint initiative. Wales' exit stems from conflicts over the inclusion of glass in the scheme, a point of contention also affecting Scotland's DRS plans. LARAC suggests pausing the scheme until other policies, like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Simpler Recycling, are implemented.

Learn more here.

Swindon's food waste collection service saves over £500,000.

Swindon Borough Council’s food waste collection service, introduced in November 2023, has been a resounding success, recycling over 4,440 tonnes of food waste and saving the council more than £500,000. To make participation easy and accessible, residents are provided with both indoor and outdoor caddies, which can be lined with plastic or biodegradable bin liners for hassle-free waste disposal.

For more details on the service, click here.

The Environment Agency launches consultation on waste charges.

The Environment Agency has launched a consultation on new waste charges, running until January 20, 2025. Proposals include higher fees for enforcement, updated hourly rates, and charges for unauthorized operators and waste exemptions. These changes aim to tackle the £1 billion annual cost of waste crime in England while ensuring fair regulation.

You can learn more about the consultation here.