A new online platform will allow those in the recycling industry to track the flow of precious metals and critical raw materials across the EU.

In the wake of the government’s commitment to eliminate ‘avoidable’ plastic waste by 2042, supermarket Iceland has promised to make its own-brand products plastic free within five years, and other retailers are offering pledges of their own.

The Environment Agency has announced a £750,000 investment for the creation of a dedicated team to address plastic pollution in the South West of England.

WRAP has announced that it is set to undergo fundamental changes to its organisation due to funding issues, a move that is likely to lead to the loss of around 25 jobs.

The EU has adopted the first ever Europe-wide plastics strategy, placing an emphasis on creating secondary markets for recycled plastics in its bid to create a truly circular economy in Europe.

The UK waste and resources industry has largely welcomed the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan, although calls remain for more substance to shore up the proposals.

Effective from today, the UK’s ban on the manufacture of products containing microbeads is said by the government to be one of the ‘toughest’ bans of its kind in the world.

New research shows that David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II series was an effective catalyst for increasing public awareness of the environmental damage caused by plastic pollution.

Environmental charity Hubbub will work with coffee giant Starbucks to trial a five pence charge, while industry commenters say wider reform is needed to effect change.

In its new report, the Environmental Audit Committee has advised the government to apply a 25 pence levy to disposable coffee cups in order to recycle them all by 2023.