The Recycling Association and the Confederation of Paper Industries have urged ministers to contact the Chinese government over its proposed ban on all waste plastics and unsorted paper from 2018.

Tesco’s single-use carrier bags will be completely replaced by a ‘Bag for Life’ made from 94 per cent recycled plastic from the end of August, with sales funding community projects across the UK.

A new report from Eunomia Research & Consulting has predicted that the UK’s recycling rate could be limited to 63 per cent if residual waste treatment capacity continues to grow.

A bottle deposit return scheme is among five actions put forward by think tank Green Alliance that could help to reduce marine plastic pollution by up to two thirds, after new analysis from the think tank revealed that current government policy will only deal with two per cent of the problem.

£665,000 of new funding has been announced to help local authorities promote the re-use and recycling of waste electrical and electronic equipment.

The Environment Agency has partnered with the ESA to collaborate and focus resources on poorly-performing sites in an attempt to raise standards of operation within the sector and fight waste crime.

The quality and quantity of Scotland’s recycling is being held back by contamination of the waste being sent to the country’s MRFs, according to SEPA.

The UK is currently on course to meet recycling obligations for all key packaging materials, according to new figures, though the potential Chinese ban on some imports could see more price volatility on the horizon.

Michael Gove must follow up on talk of a new waste and resources strategy with a distinct 25-year plan for resources and waste, says the ESA and SUEZ.

The government is to introduce legislation to ban the sale and manufacture of plastic microbeads in cosmetic products from 2018, as new Environment Secretary Michael Gove pledges greater action on ocean plastics.