Waste operatives belonging to the trade union Unite working for Biffa Waste Services in Wirral have staged a walkout over Covid-19 safety concerns, with the waste management company refuting claims that it had failed to take work safety seriously.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has released guidance to local authorities on prioritising waste collection services during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Environment Agency (EA) has announced that waste storage limits on permitted waste sites can be ‘temporarily’ exceeded if Covid-19 restrictions mean that waste cannot be removed from those sites.

The government has announced grant funding of £3.25 million to be made available to food redistribution organisations to ensure surplus food can reach those in need during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The first results from an ADEPT online survey for English local authorities to establish the impact of Covid-19 on waste and recycling services show the majority of services are continuing, but certain services such as garden and bulky waste collections have been hard hit.

The Waste Industry Safety and Health (WISH) Forum has published its finalised guidance on reducing the risk of Covid-19 in the waste management sector.

HMRC has announced a degree of ‘operational flexibility’ for landfill site operators for Landfill Tax operators in light of the Covid-19 outbreak as rate increases to £94.15 per tonne for 2020/21.

Four consumer brands are responsible for half a million tonnes of plastic pollution each year in just six developing countries, according to a new report by charity Tearfund.

With UK households being encouraged to stay at home and limit trips to the supermarket, it is more important than ever to make food last for longer. Resource has compiled some tips to create less household food waste during the Covid-19 outbreak and create positive habits for the future.

The bioplastic manufacturer Novamont launches new grade of biodegradable coating to satisfy the rising demand for compostable disposable products.