Members of the waste and resources industry descended on London this week for two days of discussion on the sector's hot topics. Producer responsibility, stuttering recycling rates, Brexit and a large serving of politics were the major talking points. Here are some of our main takeaways.

BBC allotment guru Terry Walton has called on all local authorities to install reuse shops at HWRCs at the opening of a reuse shop at Llantrisant Recycling Centre in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales.

Scottish manufacturing SMEs with innovative circular economy ideas or projects are being encouraged to access up to £1 million in grant funding to explore sustainable business opportunities and aid the transition to circular business models.

A two-month expedition to study the ‘plastisphere’ of the Mediterranean Sea departed from the coast of Italy on Thursday, as scientists seek to study how the alarming formation of a plastic-based marine ecosystem will affect the sea and humans.

Online electrical products retailer AO has completed the acquisition of The Recycling Group (TRG) and established a new recycling branch, AO Recycling, which aims to recycle a fifth of the UK’s waste fridges every year.

Fears about the future of UK environmental regulation and the legal oversight and case law on resources persist on the anniversary of the referendum that kicked off Brexit.

Bristol charity Aid Box Community will be salvaging unwanted tents and camping equipment at Glastonbury festival this weekend to donate to refugees in need of them.

IKEA has committed to cutting food waste produced by its food operations by 50 per cent before the end of 2020 using a new smart solution technology that measures food waste and allows staff to identify ways of cutting it out at source.

A route map to turn London into one of the world’s most resource efficient cities has been launched by LWARB, calling on stakeholders from local government to community groups to carry out a range of actions targeting five key areas including food waste and plastics.

Major retailers Sainsbury’s and M&S have suspended their partnerships with food redistribution organisation The Real Junk Food Project over an investigation by West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service.