Recycling news: 2020
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
Phil Conran awarded OBE in New Year Honours
An OBE has been awarded to Phil Conran for his work as chair of the government’s Advisory Committee on Packaging. Mr Conran’s award, in the New Year Honours list 2021 published on 30 December 2020, is for his “services to recycling and the environment”. The announcement brought a warm response from other members of the … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 31 Dec 2020
Industry news
The Brexit trade deal: what it means for the UK’s protection from hazardous chemicals
Following the finalisation of a new Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom, CHEM Trust’s initial assessment is that this agreement does not adequately protect human health and the environment in the UK from hazardous chemicals. This is because it doesn’t retain UK access to the EU’s chemicals regulation system REACH. The […]
CHEM Trust · 28 Dec 2020
Industry news
Instance Segmentation of Novel Objects in a Conveyer Setting
The advancements in deep learning have enabled rapid growth of computer vision capabilities. However, in order to achieve successful results, it requires a heavy reliance on the availability of large labelled datasets....
Recycleye news · 28 Dec 2020
Industry news
3 Easy Bank Holiday Recipes
To prevent food waste, revive your Christmas dinner this boxing day with these 3 easy Christmas leftover recipes.
Bywaters · 26 Dec 2020
Industry news
Cautious waste sector welcome for Brexit trade deal
A cautious welcome for the trade agreement reached today (24 December) over the UK’s exit from the European Union transition period on 1 January has emerged from the waste and recycling sector. Formal approval of the post-Brexit trade deal from the European Parliament and the European Council as well as the UK Parliament is still … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 24 Dec 2020
Industry news
Waste criminal given £2.1m confiscation order
A waste crime offender who ignored planning and environmental law to run a waste haulage and processing business, has been ordered to pay more than £2 million after a confiscation case concluded this week. The Environment Agency has reported that a “convicted waste crime offender, John Bruce, has been ordered to pay £2,101,708 following the … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 24 Dec 2020
Industry news
‘From strength to strength during challenging times’
Tim Gent, director of glass recycling company Recresco, reflects on how the company has made the most of a challenging year. This year has been one like no other bringing unprecedented challenges business leaders could neither have anticipated nor prepared for. Despite this, we have not only endured the pressures presented by a difficult year … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 24 Dec 2020
Industry news
Thank you for all your support this year
This year has been memorable in so many ways, but one of the main things we’ll remember is the generosity and support you continued to offer us throughout 2020. Your...
Emmaus UK · 24 Dec 2020
Industry news
China confirms ‘recycled’ imports for metals sector
China has confirmed “breakthrough” concessions for the import of specific “recycled materials” for its metals sector. And, it has also announced a reduction in a range of tariffs for imported materials which are understood to include some metals. The announcement on tariff reductions came this week from the country’s Ministry of Finance a week after … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 24 Dec 2020
Industry news
Hard hat recycling scheme celebrates three years
Buckinghamshire based plastics recycling company, Yes Recycling, is celebrating three years of its national hard hat recycling scheme. According to Yes Recycling the scheme has recycled just shy of 10,000 hard hats from the construction industry since its launch in 2017, which go “directly into reprocessing”. All hats are sent to the company’s specialist recycling facility in Buckinghamshire an…
letsrecycle.com News · 24 Dec 2020
Industry news
EU ratifies rules on waste plastic shipments
The European Commission has this week ( 22 December) ratified amendments to the EU Waste shipment regulation which includes new rules on the export, import and intra-EU shipment of plastic waste. The Commission stated that these amendments form part of the European Green Deal, and also implement the decision taken by 187 countries in May … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 24 Dec 2020
Industry news
Equipment round-up (24/12/2020)
With news on: OKAY installs Box Feeder; Live cameras for Yorwaste; Nihot windshifter advances; Veolia France orders Machinex robots OKAY installs Box Feeder with controlled output OKAY Engineering has installed a robust new Box Feeder to give the “perfect flow of input material” to an existing materials recycling facility. (above: video of the Box Feeder … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 24 Dec 2020
Industry news
Fatality sees F&R Cawley guilty of two offences
Luton-based F&R Cawley have been found guilty of two health and safety offences in the wake of an incident in 2014 when employee, driver Peter Coleman died in an incident in Watford. The incident took place on Watford borough council land so the prosecution was brought by the local authority. Mr Coleman had arrived at … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 23 Dec 2020
Industry news
Wishing you a sustainable Christmas and a green New Year
In a challenging year for so many, the environment and sustainability may not be at the heart of our choices, but it is possible. Our Junior Consultant Olivia Sweeney shares her tips for a sustainable Christmas and a green New Year.
Resource Futures · 23 Dec 2020
Industry news
Address Lookup - maldon.suez.co.uk
SUEZ recycling and recovery UK · 23 Dec 2020
Industry news
Two waste partnerships issue annual reports
The Kent Resource Partnership (KRP) and Hertfordshire Waste Partnership (HWP) have both published their annual reports for 2019/20. Published yesterday (22 December) the reports detail the latest update on the partnerships performance in the 2019/20 financial year, including the respective overall recycling rates to date. Recycling rates The Kent partnership reported a 46.7% recycling rate this…
letsrecycle.com News · 23 Dec 2020
Industry news
Keenan Predicts A Green Road To Recovery
IN RESPONSE TO THE UNPRECEDENTED GLOBAL CHALLENGES AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, TRILLIONS IN ECONOMIC STIMULI AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE ACROSS THE GLOBE. The coronavirus and its repercussions have further exposed the failures of a linear “take-make-waste” use of the world’s resources, and highlighted the need for a […]
Keenan Recycling · 23 Dec 2020
Industry news
Dunmow Group acquires Eastern Waste Disposal
The Dunmow Group, an Essex-based skip hire and waste management company, has announced its acquisition of Eastern Waste Disposal (EWD). Based in Brightlingsea, near Colchester, EWD provides waste disposal and recycling services for industrial and domestic customers throughout the east of England. Family-owned Dunmow Group says the acquisition “continues to enhances its waste management recyclin…
letsrecycle.com News · 23 Dec 2020
Industry news
Appointments round-up (23/12/20)
With news on: Mark Bensted OBE, Dominic Hogg, Paul Collins, Jochen Alt, Jenny Curtis, Stephanie Dalton, Tony McPartland and Steven Dunne Bensted to become CEO of London Irish After nearly 11 years with waste management company Powerday, chief executive Mark Bensted OBE is to take up a similar position with London Irish rugby club. Mr … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 23 Dec 2020
Industry news
Domino’s delivers the goods to FareShare - FareShare
FareShare · 23 Dec 2020
Industry news
‘Anomaly’ in degradable plastics work
Resources charity WRAP has said the British Standards Institution (BSI) specification for measuring the biodegradability of polyolefins had a “small but significant anomaly in the normal high standards of the BSI consultation process”. WRAP says the committee is now due to meet again in January “to examine the recommendation that the standard tests for micro-plastics … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 22 Dec 2020
Industry news
Reworked explains Boots and PPE recycling processes
Recycling business Reworked has explained how it processes hard-to-recycle cosmetics and wellness packaging arising from retailer Boots’ instore recycling scheme, as well as PPE materials from its ‘Reclaim the mask’ project. Reworked, based in North Yorkshire, specialises in “harder to handle materials” classed as residues, when other recycling has taken place and the more valuable … Read More …
letsrecycle.com News · 22 Dec 2020
Industry news
Biffa issues Christmas recycling guide
Biffa is anticipating a 40% increase in recycling volumes over the Christmas period, and has moved to help clear up confusion about what can be recycled in a bid to reduce contamination. The company said its research shows that although the majority of residents want to be more environmentally friendly at Christmas, one in three … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 22 Dec 2020
Industry news
Ensuring quality and competence in supply to UK bed manufacturers
Nick Harland Smith, managing director of NBF supplier member company Handy Ltd, talks about the benefits of NBF membership and why he’s looking forward to being involved with the new Suppliers Council. “The National Bed Federation (NBF) has been an effective industry organisation for many years. Unashamedly encouraging consumers to ‘Buy British’ and to buy […]
National Bed Federation · 22 Dec 2020
Industry news
Metal Recycles Forever Logo – all the details
The post Metal Recycles Forever Logo – all the details appeared first on MPMA .
MPMA (Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association) · 22 Dec 2020
Industry news
REA and industry call for domestic energy storage VAT cut
REA (Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology) · 22 Dec 2020
Industry news
Reconomy continues international expansion
Reconomy has announced a further acquisition in the international marketplace, by agreeing to purchase the Munich-based Reverse Logistics Group (RLG). RLG describes itself as a “leading provider of outsourced resource management and environmental services” in more than 80 countries, including Chile, India and the US. It helps customers deal with the environmental, regulatory, and logistical … R…
letsrecycle.com News · 22 Dec 2020
Industry news
Q&A with CAP Member: Wayne Hubbard
Read the full special feature here…
Worn Again Technologies news · 22 Dec 2020
Industry news
Waste arisings up 5.8% in South London partnership area
The South London Waste Partnership (SLWP) recorded a 0.9 percentage point fall in its recycling rate in the first six months of the 2019/20 financial year, despite recycling tonnages rising by 3.7%. This was because of a 5.8% increase in overall waste arisings during the six months, when compared with the same period in 2019. … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 22 Dec 2020
Industry news
Eat Natural acquired by confectionery giant Ferrero - Food Manufacture
Food Manufacture · 22 Dec 2020
Industry news
Sector watching as Dover closes to exporters
Waste and recycling businesses are today monitoring the situation at UK ports in the wake of France imposing a 48 hour ban on movements. The French ban on people entering France from the UK because of the new strain of the coronavirus in south east England is already causing queues of trucks in Kent with … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 21 Dec 2020
Industry news
WRAP director Peter Maddox departs
WRAP director Peter Maddox, who had been number two at the resources charity in terms of the management team, has left the charity. [Updates below, 22 December] Announcing his departure on Twitter today, Mr Maddox said he had left WRAP after “14+ amazing years”. He added: “It has been an enormous privilege to work alongside … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 21 Dec 2020
Industry news
Arc21 emphasises need for Northern Ireland EfW plant
Northern Ireland local authority grouping, arc21, has warned that it must build more waste infrastructure to avoid a “waste crisis” and the country’s reliance on exporting and landfill. Arc21’s acting chief executive, Tim Walker, said that Northern Ireland does not have enough local facilities to treat non-recyclable household waste, which is why it heavily relies … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 21 Dec 2020
Industry news
Ward helps keep Chit Chat Club from closure
Derbyshire based metal recycling and waste specialist, Ward has donated £520 to the Chit Chat Club in Chesterfield to cover...
Ward Recycling · 21 Dec 2020
Industry news
CIWM rebukes sector over Covid information
The waste sector faces a challenge in delivering services especially over the Christmas period with a compounding of some of the existing challenges relating to the pandemic, the CIWM has warned. And, the CIWM has called for stakeholders to “understand their responsibilities” after revealing that the Environment Agency changed its approach on discussion of the … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 21 Dec 2020
Industry news
Sustainability in the plastics supply chain - British Plastics Federation
British Plastics Federation News · 19 Dec 2020
Industry news
Rethinking plastic pollution with Planet Patrol’s partner researcher, Tom Stanton
We talk to Dr Tom Stanton, one of Planet Patrol’s partner researchers and Environmental Science lecturer at Nottingham Trent University. Tom’s main research topic is microplastic, plastic and natural textile fibre pollution. Tom recently co-authored a scientific paper titled ‘It’s the product not the polymer: Rethinking plastic pollution’. In this blog, we explore Tom’s paper […]
Planet Patrol · 19 Dec 2020
Industry news
The future of mattress recycling and the circular economy
TFRG Founder, Nick Oettinger discusses the future of mattress recycling and the circular economy. Mattress recycling in the UK Did you know more than 7.5m mattresses are sent to landfill each year? This is because landfill is...
The Furniture Recycling Group · 18 Dec 2020
Industry news
20 Recycling tips for businesses
1. Conduct a Waste Audit Regardless of industry or company size, a waste audit is the first step needed to […]
Countrystyle Recycling · 18 Dec 2020
Industry news
British Glass launches resources for local authorities
Trade association British Glass has joined forces with resources charity WRAP and national campaign Recycle Now to launch a set of glass recycling resources aimed at local authorities. Created by British Glass and design agency Glue Creative, the resources are available to download for free from the WRAP resource library and include social media graphics, … Read More
letsrecycle.com News · 18 Dec 2020