As the economic benefits of recycling are increasingly noted, there are calls for the waste portfolio to be moved from Defra to BIS. Annie Reece reports

The Insider takes on government's red tape challenge

Dacorum Borough Council has awarded Viridor with a contract to sort recyclable materials from its new co-mingling service.

With increasing recognition that recycling is about more than tonnages, Eunomia is focusing on carbon impacts with its second Carbon Index (accompanying this issue of Resource). Life Cycle Assessment Specialist Simon Hann explains

Voluntary sector organisations in Northern Ireland can apply for funding of up to £50,000 for recycling projects.

Carrier Bag Levy statistics for Northern Ireland show that the charge has reduced carrier bag use by 71.8 per cent.

Sixty per cent of Banbridge District Council residents are to receive monthly residual waste collections.

Residents in the Wigtownshire area of Dumfries and Galloway can now recycle food waste every week.

Waste and recycling operatives in West Norfolk may strike over a pay and work dispute with Kier Refuse Services.

Welsh councils recycled, reused and composted 54 per cent in the first three months of the year, up three per cent on the same period in 2013.