Leading figures in local authority recycling have called for producers to contribute more to recycling the products they put onto market at a panel conducted by the Environmental Audit Committee.

A Polish couple have been charged with slavery offences at Birmingham magistrates court following allegations that a 47-year-old was trafficked to a recycling plant in Birmingham and forced to work for a pittance.

Jack Moody Recycling Ltd has been ordered to pay £100,000 after one of its employees had to have both legs amputated below the knee following an incident with moving machinery in December 2014.

The owner of Swindon-based company Melksham Metals must pay back £2 million he made from illegal waste activities or face eight years in prison.

Compliance specialist Ecosurety and software start-up Dsposal have joined the Resource Association as affiliate members.

Digital waste company Winnow has sealed $7.4 million (£5.6 million) in growth capital to fund the further development of its Waste Monitor app helping commercial and residential kitchens monitor and cut their food waste.

The GMWDA has started looking for a new contractor for Greater Manchester, following the breakdown of its landmark PFI contract last month.

The LGA has called for more manufacturers to provide take-back services for furniture and mattresses after Defra announced that cash-strapped local authorities spent an estimated £57.7 million on clearing up fly-tipping in 2016/17.

Six new businesses working towards sustainable, circular economy solutions have been named as finalists for the 2017 Green Alley Award.

Anders Wijkman, Chairman of Climate-KIC, and Novamont CEO Catia Bastioli say standards and separate collections rather than simply ‘recyclable’ materials will create a circular plastics economy.