China’s ban on the import 24 grades of solid waste has been known to the UK recycling industry since July of last year, so how have the major companies been preparing for the disruptive new policy?

Effective from today, the UK’s ban on the manufacture of products containing microbeads is said by the government to be one of the ‘toughest’ bans of its kind in the world.

Ahead of a speech on Thursday detailing the government’s long-term environmental plans, Theresa May has hinted at a potential five pence charge for plastic bottles.

Libby Peake, Senior Policy Adviser at the Green Alliance think tank, says Brexit talk must turn to action if we are to avoid an environmental policy gap.

The UK government must take the lead in creating domestic secondary markets for recyclable plastic waste as China places bans the import of 24 grades of solid waste, says the Resource Association.

Environmental charity Hubbub will work with coffee giant Starbucks to trial a five pence charge, while industry commenters say wider reform is needed to effect change.

In its new report, the Environmental Audit Committee has advised the government to apply a 25 pence levy to disposable coffee cups in order to recycle them all by 2023.

Chinese restrictions on imports of 24 grades of solid waste were adopted on Monday and are set to cause significant discomfort in the UK recycling sector, with the Recycling Association saying that stockpiled plastics are already building up in members’ yards.

Two former members of the Green Investment Bank’s management team are among the names on the Queen’s New Year Honours list for 2018.

The use of light detection and ranging data could help Environment Agency officers spot the sudden environment changes that may indicate illegal waste dumping.