Greater producer responsibility, more consistent recycling systems and the revisitation of pay as you throw should all be considered to make English recycling more efficient, says the Green Alliance.

Surrey County Council has taken the first steps towards creating a county-wide waste collection and disposal service, which it says could save taxpayers up to £12 million a year.

A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector including a skip firm’s lost licence, a jail warning for a ‘shameless’ Croydon fly-tipper and the Great British Spring Clean.

The Resource Association has called on government to recognise the importance of high-quality recycling collection as it considers new business packaging recycling targets.

Scottish Economy Secretary Keith Brown has expressed his concerns over the progress of the Green Investment Bank’s privatisation, saying it amounts to ‘fragmentation or asset stripping’.

A new study by packaging trade association INCPEN backs behaviour change campaigns instead of bag and bottle charges to reduce littering levels.

R&WUK, the partnership between CIWM and ESA, has backed a parliamentary report calling for new environmental protection laws to be prepared before Brexit negotiations are finalised.

The Environmental Audit Committee has called for a new Environmental Protection Act to be introduced during Brexit negotiations to ensure that environmental legislation is not weakened by the UK’s departure from the EU.

The European Commission “would regret” any weakening of recycling targets caused by dissension voiced by a number of member states, says European Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella.

Somerset councils have voted to expand their recycling collection and move to a three-weekly waste collection scheme in 2017.