We’re over halfway through the year — and what a busy time it’s been! With this in mind, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to create one of our environmental news compilations, which shines the spotlight on industry developments and highlights a selection of the most important topics impacting our sector.

So, without further ado, here’s a snapshot of what’s been going on….

Keep Britain Tidy to review code of practice on litter and refuse

UK-based environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has announced a review and update on the Code of Practice on litter and refuse in England.

Providing practical guidance to local authorities and other duty bodies on how to comply with their legal obligation to keep land clear of ‘rubbish’, this document is a useful source of information, including details such as a set of recovery times to address the problems with litter, refuse and detritus, if they fall below the prescribed standard. 

As it has been 17 years since it was last fully updated, the charity has been appointed by the Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to review and revise the Code. Its evolution will reflect changes in legislation and the technical, economic and social environment in which land managers operate — as well as clarify a selection of the standards described.

This will be a collaborative effort, whereby the charity will be consulting with the relevant stakeholders to help shape and inform the revised code. We look forward to monitoring the outcome.

Vape market poses an increasing threat to the environment

The environmental impacts of vapes are being fully realised, as growing research reveals that disposable e-cigarettes are more likely to be thrown away than recycled.

In recent years, vaping has surged in popularity, with increasing amounts of young people engaging in the habit. This is due to several factors, notably the successful marketing strategies deployed by vape companies which are specially designed to target a younger demographic. 

This is creating tonnes of electronic waste, but materials in single-use vapes could have a valuable second life if recycled properly. Despite this opportunity, manufacturers globally are making little effort to enable the recycling of their products. For example, in the UK alone, the vast majority of smaller vape manufacturers and distributors are not registered to comply with legal obligations to fund recycling. 

As vaping continues to gain popularity across a diverse demographic, we expect the problem only to get worse — highlighting the urgent need for both the government and our industry to take this market more seriously and implement initiatives for their sustainable disposal. We’re game if you are — let’s talk!

DEFRA publishes updated Waste Prevention Programme

DEFRA has recently published its Waste Prevention Programme, a cross-departmental plan that aims to “bring together a range of measures backed by government funding which will help to keep products and materials in circulation for as long as possible”.

The programme, which was last evaluated in 2019, must be reviewed by every six years. As part of its recent publication, the Government made an announcement highlighting several key policies that will be laid out in the revised plan. For example, by 2025, fees for retailers collecting bulky domestic furniture from households, will be scrapped — a development that will hopefully make the recycling of large white goods and other furniture so much easier. 

The programme also contains plans to ensure that vapes are correctly disposed of, and states it will launch proposals to reform regulations around batteries to alleviate the environmental impact of redundant vehicle batteries. 

This is exciting news for the WEEE industry particularly, as it could force waste producers to think even more about compliance, and partner with businesses that specialise in implementing sustainable waste management solutions.

Supermarket tackles coffee pod problem

Morrisons has become the first UK supermarket to introduce dedicated recycling points for used coffee pods — offering its customers an easy and ethical way to dispose of this product.

Despite efforts made by some companies to introduce recyclable or compostable coffee pods, the recycling process remains challenging and inaccessible for a large proportion of consumers. The materials that pods are typically made from — a combination of single-use plastic and aluminium — are very difficult to dispose of, and very few consumers know that a specialist recycling route is required.

Morrisons’ scheme, which is in partnership with recycling service Podback, is being trialled across 29 different locations. This allows shoppers to collect Podback recycling bags and fill them with used coffee pods, before dropping them off at a bin in front of the store.  Through Podback, the aluminium and plastic pods are then transformed into material for new products, while any leftover coffee grounds go through anaerobic digestion to produce biogas and soil improver. 

Read the full story

Annual WEEE targets will continue to be missed

More consistent policies are being called for nationwide, following news that the UK is on course to miss its long-term recycling targets.

With a current recycling rate of 44.6%, the UK already missed the 50% 2020 target set by DEFRA, and  is worryingly on track to miss the 2025 (55%) and 2030 (65%) targets, too. 

Despite a boom in e-commerce leading to more packaging, recycling rates in the UK have halted —  with a lack of consistency in recycling infrastructure being identified as a key issue. Consumers are faced with extensive recycling systems, which creates confusion and makes outlining clear recycling guidance very difficult.

Given the aforementioned updates to DEFRA’s Waste Prevention Programme and reviews of the Code of Practice, it’s essential that steps are taken to improve the current situation and put the UK back on track. If we are to achieve environmental goals such as Net Zero, the nation needs to take tangible and demonstrable action — so hopefully updates to these documents will put the wheels in motion.

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Alternatively, if you have any waste management queries, please contact our sales team by emailing sales@untha.co.uk or calling 0330 056 4455.