The Scottish Government has commissioned Zero Waste Scotland to carry out ‘detailed work’ on how a deposit-return scheme could work in the country, presenting a significant step in the campaign to reinvent how plastic packaging is recycled.

The amount of residual waste being processed at energy-from-waste facilities in the UK rose by 18 per cent in 2016, according to waste and bioenergy consultancy Tolvik Consulting.

Members of the waste and resources industry descended on London this week for two days of discussion on the sector's hot topics. Producer responsibility, stuttering recycling rates, Brexit and a large serving of politics were the major talking points. Here are some of our main takeaways.

Manchester’s recycling rate is set to hit 40 per cent next year, according to the city’s council, which is having to create a new collection calendar following a ‘major boost’ to recycling.

Sorting technology manufacturer Bulk Handling Systems has announced the launch of new Max-AI technology, a sorting system that uses artificial intelligence to identify recyclables and other items for recovery.

A study offering four models for the evolution of the UK’s producer responsibility system was launched by compliance scheme Valpak at the Resourcing the Future Conference.

SUEZ’s Jean-Marc Boursier has taken over from David Palmer-Jones as President of the European Federation of Waste Management and Environmental Services.

An Office of Environmental Responsibility should be created to drive green governmental thinking and take account of natural capital in the UK, Baroness Parminter told the Resourcing the Future Conference.

Scottish manufacturing SMEs with innovative circular economy ideas or projects are being encouraged to access up to £1 million in grant funding to explore sustainable business opportunities and aid the transition to circular business models.

The government’s much-delayed 25-year plan for the environment may not be published this year, after new Environment Secretary Michael Gove reportedly halted its publication in order to give it more personal oversight.