An independent review of Birmingham City Council’s waste services recommends that the council introduce a weekly separate food waste collection, while criticising the council’s poor communication with residents and insufficient operational oversight of its waste depots.

The North London Waste Authority (NLWA) has launched the first-ever ‘Low Plastic Zone’ in Cowcross Street in Islington today (5 February).

A South African Plastics Pact was launched on Thursday (30 January) in Cape Town, with support from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

The Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA) will be once again holding its annual conference in London to discuss the future of the resources and waste industry.

Italian compostable bioplastics manufacturer Novamont has launched the ReSoil Foundation to promote soil health and land conservation.

The government has announced a £1.15-million fund to help businesses and not-for-profits develop innovative ways to tackle food waste.

The government has reintroduced the Environment Bill to Parliament today (30 January), including new commitments to ban the export of plastic waste to developing countries and to review international developments in environmental legislation every two years.

Philip Dunne, Conservative MP for Ludlow in Shropshire, has been elected to replace Mary Creagh as the new Chair of Parliament’s Environment Audit Committee (EAC).

Resource London has today (29 January) revealed a list of measures that could increase recycling rates in London flats by 26 per cent through simple solutions such as providing residents with clear information and ensuring that bins are emptied and cleaned regularly.

A group of cross-party MPs and Peers has signed an industry letter published the Guardian yesterday’s (28 January), calling on the government to include ambitious targets for compostables in the forthcoming Environment Bill.