A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including a charity recycling scheme in Northern Ireland, new waste-derived fuels and work on a landfill nature reserve.

Ambition around reducing waste and improving the quality of recycling should not be sacrificed in the race to set ever higher ‘headline’ targets, says CIWM Chief Executive Steve Lee.

The Marine Conservation Society has asked for volunteers to join in ‘The Great British Beach Clean’, an annual weekend dedicated to picking and monitoring coastal litter.

The European Parliament’s Environment Committee has today set out its desired amendments to the Circular Economy Package, including increased recycling targets, the removal of TEEP exemptions to the separate collection of materials and mandatory separate food waste collection.

Resource Association Chief Executive Ray Georgeson has called for clarity in recycling measurement to repair the current ‘worthless’ European league tables.

The European Commission is to propose a common methodology to measure food waste ahead of targeted EU action, says Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella.

A slowdown of mobile phone upgrade cycles has helped cut CO2 emissions in half, according to a Green Alliance report, which also reveals customers want to use their phones for longer.

A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including sustainable coffins, an award for the Winnow food waste meter, new bioplastic bags and an ocean waste-themed recycling forum.

More than 8,000 tonnes of rubbish was collected by nearly 800,000 volunteers during the Ocean Conservancy’s 2015 International Coastal Cleanup.

Local authority body LARAC has criticised REA and ESA reports into the future of the resources industry and says that more collaboration is needed to take the sector forward.