Recycling news: 2014
Fresh every day from industry press, GOV.UK and research feeds — plus the historical archive. Last updated 25 Jul 2026.
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Industry news
Police continue investigation after Glasgow crash
Police are expected next week to release more details of the cause of the waste collection vehicle crash in Glasgow which lead to the death of six pedestrians. The collision, which involved a city council collection lorry, occurred on Monday afternoon (December 22) close to a busy shopping area in the centre of the city. … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 24 Dec 2014
Industry news
Christmas news in brief
With news on: London Mayor’s Christmas recycling message; Scotland WEEE recycling; Coca-Cola Christmas truck, and; Wales food waste appeal Mayor of London calls on city to recycle over Christmas Mayor of London Boris Johnson has called on the city’s residents to help boost recycling levels over the festive season – and save the capital … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 24 Dec 2014
Industry news
FCC hails ‘Re-love a bike’ scheme success
A look at an FCC Environment-supported reuse scheme at HMP Rochester which forms part of the prison’s recycling and resources work, and helps to provide inmates with practical work as well as the learning of useful life skills. It was former Conservative secretary of state of state for employment – now Lord – Norman Tebbit, … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 24 Dec 2014
Industry news
News round-up
With news on; Pickles delays Peel gasification plant; Viridor investigates fire at Bredbury facility, and; Stoke-on-Trent rejects weekly waste collections Pickles calls in Peel EfW application Secretary of State for Communities Eric Pickles has stepped in over a decision to grant planning permission for a gasification facility in Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire. Peel Environmental’s application to …
letsrecycle.com News · 23 Dec 2014
Industry news
Veolia in for Simpro as TEG enters administration
Veolia has today (December 23) announced the acquisition of open air windrow composting business Simpro Ltd from troubled organics recycler TEG, which has been placed into administration. TEG Group announced last month that it had been exploring the sale of its operating division, after admitting that it was ‘unlikely’ to secure future funding for the … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 23 Dec 2014
Industry news
Crude Oil price decline impacts plastics recyclers
Chris Collier, commercial director of CK Group comments on the effect of the declining price of crude oil on plastics recycling firms. If you are in plastic recycling you have got to have been living on the moon to have not noticed the dramatic decline in the price of crude oil over the last six … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 23 Dec 2014
Industry news
Agency issues reminder on separate collections
The Environment Agency has written to businesses in the waste industry and councils to remind them of their obligations to separately collect paper, plastic, glass and metal from next month. A letter from the Agency’s head of regulated industry, Harvey Bradshaw, was sent yesterday (December 22) to clarify the requirements of the Waste (England & … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 23 Dec 2014
Industry news
Six fatalities after collection vehicle collision in Glasgow
Police are continuing an investigation into the cause of a crash involving a Glasgow council waste collection vehicle in the centre of the city, which killed six people on Monday (December 22). The incident also left a further eight people with serious injuries, Police Scotland has confirmed, including the vehicle’s driver. The collision occurred close … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 22 Dec 2014
Industry news
Defra appoints Phil Conran as ACP chair
Phil Conran has been appointed as the new chair of the Advisory Committee on Packaging (ACP) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced today (22 December). Mr Conran, who currently serves as director of consultancy 360 Environmental, takes on the role from Bob Lisney – who stepped down in September after five years … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 22 Dec 2014
Industry news
Veolia and Amey Cespa vie for Isle of Wight contract
Isle of Wight council has shortlisted two final bidders for its long-term household waste and recycling contract, worth an estimated £225 million. Veolia and Amey Cespa will vie to win the 15-25 year contract, which will see one of the contractors provide collection, treatment and disposal services on the island from October 2015. A total … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 22 Dec 2014
Industry news
Recoup sees rise in plastics communications schemes
Local authorities are increasingly turning their focus to plastic waste from households in a bid to increase recycling rates, plastics recycling body Recoup has claimed. This is among the findings of Recoup’s annual UK Households Plastic Packaging Survey, now in its 20th year, which examines the levels of collection of plastic for recycling from UK … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 22 Dec 2014
Industry news
EMR and Birmingham council fined over safety failings
European Metal Recycling Ltd has been fined £150,000 and ordered to pay £80,000 in costs following the death of a worker at its depot in Warwickshire. This was one of two recycling-related cases successfully prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on Friday (December 19), after Birmingham council was also fined over injuries sustained … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 22 Dec 2014
Industry news
Plastic packaging recycling rate ‘4% higher’ than thought
Defra is to consider whether to review recycling targets for plastic packaging, following the release of a report suggesting that the current recycling rate for waste plastic packaging is higher than previously anticipated. The report, which was compiled jointly by Valpak and the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), was commissioned by the Department for … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 19 Dec 2014
Industry news
Committee looks to future of recycling in Wales
Wales will need to do more if it hopes to hit ‘increasingly demanding’ recycling targets in the future, an inquiry by the National Assembly for Wales Environment and Sustainability committee has found. Publishing its findings in a report yesterday (December 18), the committee commended residents in Wales for their ‘outstanding’ commitment to recycling – with … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 19 Dec 2014
Industry news
Norfolk rules out building incinerator at Saddlebow site
Norfolk county council has opted retain the site in King’s Lynn previously earmarked for the doomed Saddlebrow energy from waste plant – but has ruled out using the site to develop another incinerator. Earlier this year, consortium Cory Wheelabrator’s plan for a 268,000 tonnes per year capacity EfW facility at the Saddlebrow site was scrapped … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 19 Dec 2014
Industry news
What is the most eco friendly packaging for wine?
I love taking part in the weekly ‘Change the World Wednesday’ challenge set on Reduce Footprints. With the festive season coming rapidly down the track, we were challenged to find the most eco friendly way to serve drinks this Christmas. And what our host wrote surprised me. She said “While boxed wine may not look…
Zero Waste Week · 19 Dec 2014
Industry news
CATCH UP WITH ALL OUR NEWS IN OUR WINTER NEWSLETTER
Welcome to Powerday’s winter newsletter. Read all about our trio of new developments – Enfield and West Drayton Materials Recycling Facilities and Cattlegate Farm anaerobic digestion plant – as...
Powerday · 19 Dec 2014
Industry news
VAT exemptions challenge ‘not in Christmas spirit’
An application to overturn VAT exemptions for councils offering trade waste collections could have ‘dire consequences for thousands of small businesses’, the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) warned today (December 18). LARAC criticised the attempt to launch a Judicial Review against the exemption as ‘not in the Christmas spirit’, and hit out at the … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 18 Dec 2014
Industry news
Plastics: the challenge for 2015
Chris Dow, chief executive of Dagenham- based plastics recycling firm Closed Loop looks ahead to the challenges faced in the coming year. 2015 looks set to be the most challenging year in the history of the UK plastics recycling industry thanks to outdated regulations continuing to burden the industry and world oil prices falling and, … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 18 Dec 2014
Industry news
Recresco handed £180,000 fine for worker death
Glass recycling firm Recresco has been fined £180,000 after a worker was killed when the forklift truck he was driving overturned at the firm’s Ellesmere Port plant in April 2010. Ian Aliski, 29, from Ellesmere Port, was using the forklift at Recresco Ltd’s glass recycling plant in Manisty Wharf on April 26 2010, when the … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 18 Dec 2014
Industry news
Plant and vehicle round-up
With news on; William Tracey’s buys reconditioned RCVs; MID UK Recycling awards plant contract to TOMRA; Jayplas takes delivery of Erema extruder; Preston installs Yotta software, and; Cross Wrap delivers bale opener William Tracey’s buys reconditioned RCVs Waste management firm William Tracey Group has bought two fully reconditioned refuse collection vehicles in order to … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 18 Dec 2014
Industry news
Councils facing commodity value reductions
Councils, who today learn the scale of government funding cuts for 2015/16, are likely to find little comfort from the recycling sector, with fresh warnings that the market value of some recyclable materials is falling. Local Government minister Kris Hopkins is to present the government’s proposed settlement for council funding to MPs today (December 18), … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 18 Dec 2014
Industry news
TRAID Photography Collective #6 Lorenzo Vitturi
Photographer Dalston Anatomy where he collects and rearranges objects related to the subject to reveal and express the subject identity....
TRAID · 18 Dec 2014
Industry news
Wales issues TEEP guidance ahead of new rules
Guidance setting out the requirements for the separate collection of recyclables has been published by the Welsh Government today (December 17). The document has been made available ahead of new waste regulations due to take effect from January 1 2015, requiring councils and businesses to separately collect paper, metal, plastics and glass unless it is … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 17 Dec 2014
Industry news
TRAID Photography Collective #5 David Richardson
Smashing photo story photographer Nickque Patterson and model Lily Inge @ First Model Management The pictures will be exhibited on...
TRAID · 17 Dec 2014
Industry news
Prime Minister non-committal on circular economy plans
Prime Minister David Cameron has waded into the debate over plans to overhaul EU waste legislation, stating that he does not want to see ‘excessive regulation’ brought into effect. Mr Cameron took questions from MPs during a liaison committee session yesterday, and was asked by the chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, Stoke on Trent … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 17 Dec 2014
Industry news
Pickles mocks bin penalties at committee session
People ‘should be flogged’ for leaving their wheelie bins in the street after they have been emptied, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles joked at a select committee hearing in Westminster yesterday (December 16). The Secretary of State made the tongue-in-cheek comment while responding to tweets read out by the Communities and Local Government committee, which convened … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 17 Dec 2014
Industry news
How to reuse / recycle empty crisp packets
Last month, Pam wanted to know what she could do with empty crisp packets. There is no way to recycle them in the UK at the moment, so you all put your creative minds to the task. Here’s what you came up with: Christmas decorations While browsing the internet I came across a suggestion to…
Zero Waste Week · 17 Dec 2014
Industry news
Commission to draft ‘more ambitious’ circular economy plan
European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans has confirmed that the policy proposals around waste drawn up by the previous Commission will be scrapped, but that a ‘more ambitious’ plan for the circular economy is set to be drafted in 2015. Mr Timmermans was speaking in the European Parliament today (December 16) outlining the Commission’s work … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 16 Dec 2014
Industry news
TRAID Photography Collective #4 Laurence Von Thomas
Photographer and editor Laurence Von Thomas shot for our TRAID photography collective project focusing on Dalston High Street and its...
TRAID · 16 Dec 2014
Industry news
Plastics ECO Ltd rises from ashes of ECO Plastics Ltd
Stricken recycling firm ECO Plastics was placed into pre-pack administration prior to its business and assets being acquired by investor Aurelius last week, it has emerged. And, while creditors of ECO Plastics are currently being contacted by administrators at Grant Thornton LLP, a new separate company trading as Plastics ECO Ltd has been set up … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 16 Dec 2014
Industry news
Ideal Waste Paper enters liquidation
Kent-based waste paper and recycling business Ideal Waste Paper Company Limited has been placed into liquidation. Nicholas O’Reilly from Moorfields Corporate Recovery issued a note to creditors last week (December 10) advising that he and Simon Thomas had been appointed joint liquidators for the family-run company on November 28. Founded over 40 years ago, Ideal … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 16 Dec 2014
Industry news
Waste firm seeks legal case against VAT exemptions
A dispute over whether local authorities should be exempt from paying VAT on trade waste collections could go to the courts, after an application for Judicial Review was submitted earlier this month. Under current rules established by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in 2011, councils are exempt from paying value added tax on commercial … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 16 Dec 2014
Industry news
Palm oil plantation crime drives illegal logging in Indonesia - eia-international.org
Environmental Investigation Agency · 16 Dec 2014
Industry news
In memory of Theo Colborn
Theo Colborn was a visionary who worked tirelessly to protect the public from chemicals with hormone disrupting properties. She desperately tried to alert the world to the problems associated with exposure of the unborn child to countless hormone disrupting chemicals in every day household products. Her brilliance was in piecing together the evidence to portray […]
CHEM Trust · 15 Dec 2014
Industry news
Refashion Day
TRAID Education were invited along to the Makerversity in Somerset House to join Hubbub for their Refashion Day. photo credit:...
TRAID · 15 Dec 2014
Industry news
Queen’s Park Student Talks Upcycling
Following another successful upcycled hat making project at Queen’s Park Community School, Year 10 student Grace McKinlay offers an insight...
TRAID · 15 Dec 2014
Industry news
‘No plans’ to outsource waste collections in Birmingham
Birmingham city council has insisted it has ‘no plans’ to outsource its waste collection service in the wake of fierce criticism over the way the service is managed. The Labour-controlled local authority, which is the largest in England, currently operates an in-house waste collection service for over one million residents. However, the service came under … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 15 Dec 2014
Industry news
AWM workers offered support in wake of incident
A Bradford-based waste and recycling firm has highlighted the importance of offering workers support, after the body of a premature baby boy was found at one of its sites. Associated Waste Management was commenting after an inquest held on Friday (December 12) into the death of the unidentified infant – who was found on a … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 15 Dec 2014
Industry news
Food and plastics recycling ‘confusing’ householders
Confusion over the collection of plastics and food waste is a major barrier to recycling at home, according to new research from the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP). Published on Friday (December 12), WRAP’s latest ‘Barriers to recycling at home’ report identifies uncertainty felt by householders when new materials – in particular plastics and … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 15 Dec 2014