Packaging

A not-for-profit consortium backed by more than 100 organisations representing nearly half of UK EPR fees will take on operational management of the packaging extended producer responsibility scheme from April.

RECOUP's latest survey finds 78 per cent of English councils not yet collecting plastic film at kerbside intend to start by the Simpler Recycling deadline, but almost half are targeting the final day itself and end market confidence is low.

University of Edinburgh researchers have engineered E. coli bacteria to convert waste PET plastic into L-DOPA, the frontline treatment for Parkinson's disease, in what they describe as the first biological process to produce a neurological therapeutic from plastic waste.

Stable policy and targeted financial incentives are key to unlocking private capital for flexible plastics recycling infrastructure.

Ecosurety and RECOUP white paper warns low virgin prices and high energy costs could see majority of remaining UK plastic reprocessing infrastructure lost by 2030.

University of Glasgow study finds fibres present in 62.5 per cent of dipper broods in Scotland and Spain

Environmental network outlines dual-budget EPR model and interim circularity fund ahead of EU Circular Economy Act.

Trade body warns of cross-border complexity after UK Government grants Internal Market Act exclusion

Deposit return schemes linked to increased collection volumes across multiple EU member states in 2023.

UK Government approves Welsh Government’s divergence with conditions including extended transition period to October 2031

Alliance for Plastic Waste proposes dedicated recovery facilities as film recycling economics remain unproven

Consultation response confirms time-and-materials charging scheme takes effect from 3 February 2026

Welsh Government proposes three fee mechanisms to shift estimated £15m litter cost to producers