It’s been a good few months since we last put together one of our environmental news compilations, and a lot has been happening since then!

From WEEE recycling targets and food waste prevention measures to RDF export figures and making urban spaces greener, here’s a flavour of what’s been going on…

Annual WEEE recycling targets set to be missed

It’s been revealed that the UK is likely to fail to meet its annual household waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) target, again.

During the first half of 2022, 46.1% of the target was achieved – compared with 47.5% in 2021, and targets were missed last year too.

However, many sector experts have spoken about the challenges faced by the Government in setting these targets. For instance, the difficulties thrown up by the pandemic have impacted the volumes of WEEE, and the cost-of-living crisis is expected to likely reduce the amount of WEEE generated this year, too.

Supermarket takes action to tackle food waste

Britain’s third largest supermarket, Asda, has announced new plans to help consumers reduce food waste in their homes, and save money.

The scheme will see Asda remove best before dates from circa 250 fresh fruit and veg lines, across all its UK stores.

In addition to the removal of dates, Asda will also be providing guidance to its customers on how to best store and prepare fresh food, and tips on how to cut out wastage.

UK lags behind other European countries in recycling glass

A report by Zero Waste Europe and Eunomia Research and Consulting has found that the UK’s closed loop glass recycling rate was 43% – compared with France (61%) and Germany (77%).  And this number was even lower for the UK’s single-use glass containers (38%).

The report also states how a deposit return scheme (DRS) which includes single-use glass could significantly improve these rates.

‘Greening up’ urban places

This positive news story looks at ‘seven greening projects in unlikely urban spaces’ – spanning mini roundabouts, abandoned tennis courts, fly-tipping hotspots, and car parks.

Communities across the UK are breathing a new lease of life into ‘unloved’ spaces within towns and cities. One such scheme transformed two former tennis courts into a food garden – it even has an on-site café where it sells fresh produce to raise funds for a local food bank. Now that’s inspiring!

RDF exports from England have decreased by 10%

Data from the Environment Agency has revealed that the export of refuse derived fuel (RDF) from England fell an additional 10% in the first half of 2022, compared to 2021.

This means that 723,890 tonnes were exported between January and June this year, compared to 800,669 in 2021. February was the month with the biggest year-on-year decrease (19%) in tonnage, while it slowed in April (1.5%).

Focus confirmed for upcoming International E-Waste Day 2022

The UN has estimated that 24.5 million tonnes of small e-waste – encompassing mobile phones, cameras, and toasters, to name a few – will be produced worldwide, in 2022 alone. And it is items like these which are often discarded incorrectly – usually by being landfilled or incinerated.

The WEEE Forum – the organisation that set up the E-Waste Day initiative – has confirmed the focus this year will be on the reuse, repair, and recycling of small electronics.

It wants to highlight the importance of these devices and how the resources ‘locked inside’ them – such as precious metals – can be utilised within the production of new items, including wind turbines, solar panels, or electric vehicle batteries, to name a few.

E-waste is a very circular and wide-ranging topic, and it’s vital not to solely focus on the ‘big stuff’. That’s exactly why this day is so important amid a sea of national and international days and weeks.

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