Recycling news: 2026

Industry news Firm fined £142k for exporting contaminated plastic waste to Malaysia A Lancashire-based waste operator and its director have been fined more than £142,000 after pleading guilty to illegally exporting contaminated plastic waste to Malaysia. 3R Technology UK and its director Yulin Wang appeared before Preston Magistrates’ Court on 24 March 2026, where both pleaded guilty to a total of 16 offences. The company was fined … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Maker Industrial earns EcoVadis gold rating Bury-based Maker Industrial, part of chemical manufacturer The Rakem Group, has been awarded EcoVadis Gold for being in the top 5% of businesses globally for environmentally sustainability and social performance. Packaging News (UK) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Meet Whitney the Wasteater: Biffa’s Book supporting WasteAid Since 2019, WasteAid has been proud to partner with Biffa, one of the UK’s leading waste management companies. What began as an early commitment to a young charity has grown into a long-standing collaboration, helping WasteAid expand its reach, strengthen its organisation, and deliver practical waste solutions in communities around the world. Building on this […] WasteAid · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Cropped 8 April 2026: Iran war drives up food prices | Two nature talks conclude | Return of UK’s tallest bird We handpick and explain the most important stories at the intersection of climate, land, food... Carbon Brief · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Oil companies are the only Iran war victors Ahead of next month’s elections, the Conservatives and Reform see the conflict-driven fuel crisis as an opportunity to convince Britons carbon cuts cost too much. Meanwhile, fossil fuel firms prepare for a major monetary windfall. Axe the Carbon Tax is the latest slogan to come from a battered, bruised but definitely not all-out Tory camp. […] Environment Journal · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Quantum coalition agrees investment deal in London A coalition of quantum developing nations agreed to improve investment opportunities for the sector in a London meeting. The Quantum Development Group (QDG) is formed of 13 allied nations including Australia, France, Japan and the US. In the fifth meeting of the QDG, which took place last week in London, saw government representatives of the […] UKTN (UK Tech News) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news WWF urges favouring plastic reduction before materials substitution MRW WWF urges favouring plastic reduction before materials substitution Conservation charity produces statement outlining vision for use of alternative materials to tackle plastic pollution WWF urges favouring plastic reduction before materials substitution Daniel Bosley MRW (Materials Recycling World) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news DRS administrator announces grant scheme for small businesses Exchange for Change has announced a ‘targeted grant scheme’ to support small businesses in funding reverse vending machine installation. Circular Online (CIWM) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Read the digital edition of MRW’s April-May issue online now MRW Read the digital edition of MRW’s April-May issue online now Latest magazine takes an in-depth look at circularity challenges within the UK clothing sector, along with providing exclusive insights from 2026 Politics of Waste round table Read the digital edition of MRW’s April-May issue online now Neil Merrett MRW (Materials Recycling World) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news War-time fall out: Cut fertilisers to improve UK security and benefit nature, says charity While there is relief at the ceasefire in the US-Israel war with Iran, commentators continue to warn of ongoing uncertainty for fuel supplies and prices; but in the long run, will it be shortages of fertiliser and the knock-on effect on our food security that affect Britain the most in the economic fall-out of the […] Envirotec Magazine · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Worldly joins Green Sports Alliance Worldly partners with the Green Sports Alliance to give sports teams and venues deeper visibility into product impacts and sourcing […] Ecotextile News · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Lenzing expands renewable energy portfolio Cellulose fibres giant commissions 14 MW power‑to‑heat facility designed to strengthen grid stability and heat management LENZING – Austrian fibre […] Ecotextile News · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Axil’s Piotr Sosienko Named in CILT(UK) 35 Under 35 2026 Axil, one of the UK’s leaders in total waste and resource management, is proud to announce that Piotr Sosienko, Business Operations Support & Supply Chain, has been named in the CILT(UK) 35 Under 35 for 2026, recognising emerging leaders shaping the future of logistics, transport, and supply chain. Now in its fourth year, and with a record number of submissions, the initiative celebrates indivi… MEM Magazine (Manufacturing & Engineering) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Project turns recovered car battery acid and plastic waste into clean hydrogen Researchers have developed a solar-powered reactor to break down hard-to-recycle forms of plastic waste – such as drinks bottles, nylon textiles and polyurethane foams – using acid recovered from old car batteries, and converting it into clean hydrogen fuel and valuable industrial chemicals. The reactor, developed by researchers from the University of Cambridge, is powered […] Envirotec Magazine · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Ganges River pollution study: standard monitoring identifies only 1% of organofluorine contamination Standard tests fail to identify 99% of toxic PFAS chemicals in the Ganges River, according to a new study from interdisciplinary research organization The James Hutton Institute, the University of Graz, Warsaw University of Technology and the Indian Institute of Technology. Flowing over 2,500km from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, the Ganges River […] Envirotec Magazine · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news The air ‘pollution’ on Venus could fuel future missions There’s no getting away from it, the whole of Venus would be an AQMA if there weren’t more pressing concerns, like sulphuric acid clouds and temperatures that can melt lead. But new research suggests that this hostile environment might not just be survivable, it could actually be useful. Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences […] Air Quality News · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Trent AI raises £9.7m to boost its AI-native security agents Agentic security startup Trent AI has secured a £9.7m seed round to boost its layered security solution. Trent AI is designed for engineering leaders, security teams and companies building AI agents and autonomous software systems, helping teams ship agentic systems quickly while maintaining strong security across code, infrastructure and runtime environments. The startup says as […] UKTN (UK Tech News) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news WSP Local Authority Waste Conference - Transforming Lives Locally - larac.org.uk LARAC (Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news PRN Consultation 2026: Key Reforms Explained The PRN Consultation 2026 outlines major reforms to the UK packaging waste system. Discover key changes, fraud measures, and what producers must do before the May 2026 deadline. Valpak · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news World of Sweets launches range based on The Traitors with interactive packaging World of Sweets is launching a licensed confectionery range based on the BBC show The Traitors in September. Packaging News (UK) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Crews tackle overnight blaze at Kent waste site 10 fire engines, a height vehicle and two bulk water carriers were deployed to an industrial waste site after a fire broke out in Kent last night (7 April 2026). Thick black smoke was visible above Brunswick Road in Ashford, with Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) advising nearby residents to keep windows and doors … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Sustainability & Impact Awards | Final entries deadline extended to 17 April Packaging News has announced a further extension for entries deadline for the Sustainability & Impact Awards 2026 – Friday 17 April. Packaging News (UK) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news EU updates guidance on landmark packaging regulation reforms New European Commission guidance aims to address questions about some of the critical reforms to be introduced up to 2030 via the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). Packaging News (UK) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Sunotec secures Blackstone Investment for EU expansion Sunotec, European integrator of utility‑scale solar and battery storage projects, has announced a new partnership following a structured equity investment from funds managed by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities.The investment is set to strengthen Sunotec’s growth across its core European markets, including Germany, the UK, Scandinavia and Southeast Europe. It will also support the expansion of … BEST Magazine (Batteries & Energy Storage Technology) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Easee Appoints Fleet Veteran Steven Frost as Head of Automotive Easee, the Norwegian leader in smart EV charging technology, today announces the appointment of Steven Frost as its new Head of Automotive, reinforcing the company’s commitment to accelerating electrification across fleet operations of all sizes. In this newly created role, Steven will lead the development and expansion of Easee’s dedicated fleet and automotive offering, supporting customers ra… MEM Magazine (Manufacturing & Engineering) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Household Plastic Packaging Collection Survey 2025 The post Household Plastic Packaging Collection Survey 2025 appeared first on RECOUP . RECOUP · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Entrepreneurship tax relief package comes into force In a boost to entrepreneurs, startups and scale-ups, a package to unlock private investment and double tax reliefs has been brought into force by the government. The changes implemented to coincide with the start of the new tax year expand the number of companies eligible for the enterprise management incentives (EMI) scheme, helping companies to […] UKTN (UK Tech News) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Frugalpac unveils high-speed paper bottle machine FRUGALPAC has unveiled a new high-speed machine that is said to dramatically increase the production of its paper Frugal Bottles. The new Frugal Bottle Assembly Machine 2 (FBAM-2) is a scalable platform capable of producing 14 million paper bottles a year – more than five times the capacity of its predecessor, FBAM-1. Designed for installation […] Packaging Scotland · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Air pollution may be spreading antibiotic resistance Scientists are warning that air pollution may be helping to spread antibiotic resistance through the air, a pathway that has been largely overlooked. A growing body of research on the ‘air resistome’ suggests that airborne particles can carry antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), allowing them to travel long distances and potentially enter the human body through […] Air Quality News · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news UK transport strategy must serve the one in three without a car An alliance of eight charitable organisations has called on the UK government to ensure that England’s new integrated transport strategy, Better Connected, delivers tangible improvements for the estimated one in three adults without access to a car. The Sustainable Transport Alliance, drawing on insights from thousands of community groups, argues that decisive action is now […] Air Quality News · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Small shops shielded from RVM costs under Deposit Return Scheme Exchange for Change has outlined an exemptions framework for reverse vending machine (RVM) requirements under the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). Under the regulations, retailers located in urban areas with a retail space of less than 100m² will be automatically exempt from operating a return point. These businesses will not need to apply for an … Read More letsrecycle.com News · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Defra Launches Consultation on PRN Reform The post Defra Launches Consultation on PRN Reform appeared first on Clarity . Clarity Environmental · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news G&G introduces new ink packs New compatible ink packs aim to cut costs while maintaining quality standards. The Recycler (imaging consumables recycling) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Altilium files 10th patent application for recovery of critical battery materials and production of low carbon nickel MHP 8th April, 2026 – Altilium, a UK-based clean technology group focused on sustainable recovery of critical battery minerals, has today announced the filing of its 10th UK patent application, covering its proprietary process for production of key battery intermediates, including nickel MHP (mixed hydroxide precipitate), from recycled feedstocks. This latest patent application marks a significant … Altilium news · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Kerbside collection of cartons reaches 86% of UK councils We are really pleased to share that liquid cartons are now widely collected in the UK. As of 6th April 2026, 86% of UK local authorities accept cartons as part of their kerbside recycling collection service. The milestone marks a significant step in a journey that began back in 2007 with the members of ACE… ACE UK (Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Geopolitics derails textile climate plans War‑driven energy shocks and rising geopolitical risk are squeezing margins and delaying investment in low‑carbon upgrades GLOBAL – Geopolitical tensions […] Ecotextile News · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Rail Brakes Support Fast Roller Changes in Laminating Units In a large laminating unit by SAUERESSIG Engineering for laminating steel strip on both sides, rubber rollers press a protective PET film onto hot steel strip. Despite cooling, these rubber rollers do wear down and need to be replaced regularly. Four profiled rail brakes by mayr® power transmission ensure that the laminating process, which takes place 24 hours a day, only has to be interrupted … MEM Magazine (Manufacturing & Engineering) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Just Eat and Starship Technologies launch delivery robots in Barnsley Just Eat and Starship Technologies have partnered to launch delivery robots to Barnsley, named government’s first ‘tech town’, from today. The pilot scheme in North East Barnsley will put small orange self-driving delivery robots on local streets to deliver meals from restaurants to customers’ doors. The service starts in Carlton, Athersley, Monk Bretton and Lundwood, […] UKTN (UK Tech News) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Canon introduces new line of remanufactured MFPs Canon U.S.A., Inc. announced the official launch of its multifunction device remanufacturing business in the United States, with operations now underway at Canon Virginia Inc. The Recycler (imaging consumables recycling) · 8 Apr 2026 Industry news Revolutionary rubber waste recycling processes can capture CO2 by recycling gloves Research by the University of St Andrews could help cut down a major waste stream and make a number of useful materials far more environmentally friendly. The team have revealed two breakthrough chemical recycling and upcycling techniques tackling nitrile butadiene rubber [NBR] products, which include disposable gloves and seals on industrial parts. Thanks to its […] Environment Journal · 8 Apr 2026