Environmental charities across England are to receive over £1.5 million after 26 businesses agreed to make donations in response to pollution charges brought by the Environment Agency.

The Renewable Energy Association says that EU figures revealing that the UK is lagging behind the rest of the EU on commitments to meet 2020 renewable energy targets should be a ‘wake-up call’ to the government on renewable policy.

The European Defence Agency has launched a project establishing ways to incorporate the circular economy into the defence sector.

The UK had the tenth highest recycling rate in Europe in 2015, while Germany maintained its top position, according to figures published by the European Union.

The Chinese government is set to invest £29 billion in establishing better waste practices over the next three years to address the levels of soil and water pollution caused by growing landfills.

A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including jail for a London fly-tipper, executive movements at WRAP, Recycle Week 2017 and Blue Peter going green.

The European Commission’s roadmap for an EU strategy on plastics in the circular economy does not get to the root of the plastics problem, according to a coalition of environmental groups.

The European Commission has called on member states to consider more carefully the waste hierarchy when looking at increasing incineration capacity and has suggested the phasing out of support for mixed waste incineration.

European Commission VP Frans Timmermans says “good progress” is being made on developing a circular economy in Europe and announces a new finance support platform for circular projects.

Peterborough City Council is considering ending its waste contract with Amey 17 years early – the second authority looking at early termination of a long-term contract in the last couple of weeks.