The coffee chain will introduce a five pence paper cup charge across all 950 UK stores later this month to encourage the use of reusable cups.

Ministers from the UK, Welsh and Scottish Governments, as well as officials from Northern Ireland, met on 6 July to discuss plans for a collective deposit return scheme for drinks containers that would operate in all nations of the UK.

Resource takes a look at some of the initiatives UK festivals are pushing this year in a bid to tackle the huge amounts of waste created by summer events annually.

Recycling charity RECOUP has linked up with Norfolk Waste Partnership to prove recycling is in fashion through a programme showing how clothing can be made from recycled plastic bottles.

In the wake of China’s import bans it has been reported that Thailand is becoming a ‘dumping ground’ for electronic waste – and the country is beginning to fight back against the influx.

The Scottish Government has launched a public consultation on a deposit return scheme (DRS) for Scotland to gather stakeholder opinions on how such a scheme for Scotland should work.

Manchester-based Axion Recycling Ltd has been purchased in full by metal recycling firm S. Norton & Co.

The ‘Mobe-Aisle’ was launched in The Hague by Ekoplaza and A Plastic Planet, designed to promote a plastic-free way of life.

The waste management company is working with Marks and Spencer, Tesco and Sainsbury’s on a project to put recycled black plastic into food packaging.

Plastics and food waste are among the topics that will be under the spotlight at this year’s Scottish Resources Conference, set to take place from 3-4 October in Edinburgh.