Waste

The closure of processing facilities and record low prices of virgin plastics brought about by the coronavirus have led to the recycling industry ‘closing production’ in Europe, according to a trade body

The EU’s circular economy action plan should be put at the heart of the economic recovery in the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis, environment commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius told MEPs on Monday

Environmental groups have criticised plastic manufacturers for ‘capitalising on fears’ amid the coronavirus pandemic to push for delays to EU legislation banning a range of single-use products, and urged policymakers to pursue low-waste alternatives.

European waste industry groups have called on the European Commission to include a cap on the amount of commercial and industrial waste sent to landfill in its circular economy plan in order to promote recycling and incineration for energy recovery

A new body claiming to represent 90% of Spanish manufacturers and distributors of agricultural plastic will launch a producer responsibility scheme next year to raise collection and recycling rates for non-packaging plastics used in Spanish agriculture, it emerged last week