The trade union Unite is to ballot Wirral Council refuse workers over strike action in a pay dispute with Biffa.

The waste sector has largely welcomed the government’s Budget 2020, though stakeholders have called for further clarity on the forthcoming Plastics Packaging Tax.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has confirmed today (11 March) that a new Plastic Packaging Tax will be introduced from April 2022 to encourage producers to increase their use of recycled material.

The European Commission has today (11 March) published its new Circular Economy Action Plan, outlining measures to ensure that products are designed to last longer and are easier to reuse, repair and recycle.

A recent survey carried out by Every Can Counts found that the UK public wants more can recycling facilities in public spaces, with 60 per cent calling for street recycling facilities.

A round-up of news from the waste and resources sector, including Renewi, Eunomia, PowerHouse Energy, Agrimax and J&B Recycling.

Recycling Technologies is to receive a €10-million investment from renewable diesel and jet fuel company Neste and sustainable investment manager Mirova.

A series of polls have found significant public support in Nordic countries for the ‘variable’ deposit return scheme (DRS) model, where the deposit fee is determined by the container’s size and material.

INCPEN will be delivering the 2020 Resourcing the Future conference with CIWM, ESA and WRAP.

A ‘Repair Café Carbon Calculator’ is set to be previewed at the UK’s first Repair Café Conference on 12 March in Farnham, Surrey.