The government has failed to meet its own targets to cut the environmental impact of its operations, including waste generation, according to a report quietly released by Defra.

A new Danish denim label is aiming to ‘save’ 70 million litres of fresh water over the next two months as part of a plan to drive change in the ‘resource intensive’ industry.

A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including a plastics recycling educational programme, treecycling and thousands of plastic bottles washing up on the Cornish coast.

‘Bin it for Good’, a three-month anti-litter pilot scheme in the main shopping areas of Birmingham city centre, has reportedly reduced litter by half.

The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management has launched a year-long campaign against waste crime by announcing that it will be contributing almost £50,000 to an initiative raising business awareness of the Duty of Care.

Restaurants in France are now legally obliged to sort their food waste, and are being encouraged to provide doggy bags for customers’ leftover food if requested.

The Ocean Cleanup organisation plans to deploy a 100 metre-long floating barrier device to test passive technology designed for clearing the oceans of plastic pollution.

Litter levels are ‘acceptable’ in 90 per cent of surveyed sites in England, though fast-food and carrier-bag litter has increased significantly in the last year, Keep Britain Tidy found in its annual Local Environment Quality Survey of England.

A trial range of ‘wonky’ vegetables in 75 Morrisons stores, introduced after pressure from celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, has produced ‘promising’ initial results.

A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including Every Can Counts, BMRA’s new Chief Executive and Christmas leftovers.