Recycling rates in East Devon have immediately increased by as much as 15 per cent, following the introduction of a three-weekly bin collection, findings suggest.

Defra says that it is ‘committed’ to publishing its long-term environmental plan after a leaked draft of the long-awaited document was criticised by environmental groups amid rumours it may never see the light of day.

Devon Contract Waste, which suffered a ‘devastating fire’ at its headquarters last month, has been forced to make eight members of staff redundant following the incident.

A woman has died following a road traffic collision between her car and a recycling lorry in Carmarthenshire last week.

The government’s new Litter Strategy for England has been widely well-received, though some concerns about funding, the role of EPR and implications on waste management have been voiced.

Litterers could be fined up to £150 and councils stopped from charging householders for disposing DIY household waste at recycling centres as part of the government’s new and long-anticipated litter strategy for England.

London-based waste management company Bywaters [http://www.bywaters.co.uk/] has created a new mobile app that allows property and facilities managers to carry out immediate waste audits.

The British Plastics Federation Recycling Group (BPFRG) has launched a new strategy with the aim of improving plastic recycling in the UK, retaining valuable material and creating UK-based jobs through industry-led initiatives and regulation.

Acumen Waste Services Ltd announced the completion of its acquisition of waste management company Highspeed Group Ltd last week.

Independent think thank Green Alliance has published a collection of short essays from business and policy professionals saying the government must go ‘much further’ to embed resource efficiency in the UK economy.