The Renewable Energy Association says that EU figures revealing that the UK is lagging behind the rest of the EU on commitments to meet 2020 renewable energy targets should be a ‘wake-up call’ to the government on renewable policy.

The European Defence Agency has launched a project establishing ways to incorporate the circular economy into the defence sector.

The UK had the tenth highest recycling rate in Europe in 2015, while Germany maintained its top position, according to figures published by the European Union.

The European Commission has called on member states to consider more carefully the waste hierarchy when looking at increasing incineration capacity and has suggested the phasing out of support for mixed waste incineration.

European Commission VP Frans Timmermans says “good progress” is being made on developing a circular economy in Europe and announces a new finance support platform for circular projects.

The Prince of Wales has voiced his support for bottle deposit schemes, after backing Sky’s Ocean Rescue campaign against marine plastic.

The Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive have joined forces in the North East to check waste sites are operating legally and safely.

MEPs have voted in favour of a 70 per cent recycling and reuse target for 2030, upping the goal proposed by the European Commission in its Circular Economy Package.

Members of the waste and resources industry have welcomed the mention of the industry in the government’s new industrial strategy, unveiled today by Prime Minister Theresa May.

Stakeholders have been told that the government expects the EU’s Circular Economy Package to apply to the UK, as the European Parliament convenes this week for a vote on the package’s legislation.