Industry groups have both supported and criticised Waste Minister Therese Coffey’s move to reject a proposal by the Liberal Democrats to bring in a 5p charge on disposable coffee cups to reduce waste.

The government has once again ruled out the possibility of imposing a 5p charge on disposable coffee cups handed out at high street retailers after calls by the Liberal Democrats.

A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including new appointments at Biffa and Cromwell Polythene, and the opening of a new EfW facility in Buckinghamshire.

Green City Solutions, a German start-up creating urban air purification installations, has beaten off five other circular companies to win this year’s Green Alley Award.

Terrifying news: 15 million carved pumpkins go uneaten in the UK during Halloween each year. Hubbub and Unilever have relaunched their #PumpkinRescue campaign to get people eating their glowing decorations.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has partnered with the International Baccalaureate to work on embedding circular economy teaching into the IB curriculum.

Funding of £400,000 from the Northern Irish carrier bag levy is to be made available to support small-scale environmental projects aimed at improving the local environment and boosting civic pride, ahead of a review of the charge next year.

Celebrity chef and waste campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has accused brands of ‘greenwashing’ responses to the burning issue of coffee cup waste, criticising in particular a campaign to increase high street recycling of takeaway cups.

A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including a new chair for the ESA, a new look for Viridor and a new range of 70 per cent bioplastics for Novamont.

Funding of £1.5 million is to be made available for businesses and research institutions working in the bioeconomy in Scotland to support innovative work that will help deliver circular economy growth.