A new study released last week (8 May) supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) suggests that regulatory barriers and technological ‘lock-in’ are hampering plastic packaging recycling efforts.

Almost half of councils have plans to reopen their Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) within the next two weeks, according to the latest Covid-19 local authority impacts survey, while recycling collections have experienced a slight increase in disruption.

The Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) has found evidence that some householders have been disposing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) through their household recycling.

Garden and bulky waste services remain disrupted and more Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) close while core collections services continue to be maintained, according to the latest Covid-19 local authority impacts survey.

The consultation period for the Plastic Packaging Tax has been extended by three months due to the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Robert Jenrick, the Secretary for Housing, Communities and Local Government, has said that local authorities will be asked to “plan the organised opening” of Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in the coming weeks.

Plastic waste reprocessor Recycling Technologies announced yesterday (22 April) that the Netherlands will be the location of its first site in Europe.

Local authorities are planning for a “controlled and consistent” reopening of Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) once the government publishes its strategy for exiting the Covid-19 lockdown, according to the latest ADEPT local authority impact survey.

Sustainable polymer company Aquapak has donated 46,500 water-soluble infection control laundry bags to frontline NHS health and social care workers to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace.

Cardiff Council has urged residents to continue to separate recyclables at the kerbside despite announcing it had taken the “temporary measure” to send recyclables for incineration during the Covid-19 pandemic.