Vape recycling across Worcestershire has almost doubled in a year following the disposable vape ban, new figures from Worcestershire County Council show.

The amount of vapes collected at the county’s Household Recycling Centres rose from 1.67 tonnes in 2024 to 3.30 tonnes in 2025, figures show.

However, the council warned that vapes and small electricals are still being found every day at the recycling sorting facility in Norton, Worcestershire.

Councillor Josh Robinson, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Communities, said that the significant increase in vape recycling is encouraging, but warned that too many vapes are still ending up in household waste and recycling bins.

Freedom of Information responses showed that across the UK, there were 1760 battery-linked fires in 2025, a 147% increase in just three years. This means UK fire brigades are tackling fires caused by a lithium-ion battery at a rate of once every five hours.

“Unfortunately, we have seen fires at waste facilities caused by batteries from items such as vapes being placed in general waste or household recycling,” Robinson said.

“These incidents can result in extensive damage to vehicles and facilities and, most importantly, put collection crews and site staff at risk.”

In the year since the disposable vape ban was introduced on 1 June 2025, the number of vapes thrown away each week has decreased from 8.2 million to 6.3 million.

Last week, waste companies called for a £5 deposit to be charged on vapes as an incentive to dispose of them properly.

Biffa, the UK’s largest waste company, suggested the deposit should be £5, which is considerably higher than what will be charged as part of the UK’s deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers.

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Climate communicators risk overwhelming people or placing too much guilt on individuals if they fail to acknowledge the emotional impact of climate change, according to Linda Aspey from the Climate Psychology Alliance.

Speaking on CIWM’s Beyond Waste podcast, Aspey said climate communication needs to move beyond simply giving people more facts or telling individuals what they should do.

In the episode, titled Climate Emotions: How Climate Change Makes Us Feel and What We Do With It, CIWM’s Trang Dang spoke to Aspey about climate psychology, eco-emotions and the role of communication in helping people respond to the climate crisis.

Aspey said emotions such as anxiety, anger, grief, despair and helplessness can all shape the way people respond to climate change, but warned that these feelings can become overwhelming if they are suppressed, dismissed or left unspoken.

She said emotions such as despair, anger and rage can “fuel people into action”, but added that people need ways to acknowledge and talk about what they are feeling.

During the conversation, Aspey also warned against climate messaging that places too much responsibility on individual behaviour change, rather than recognising the need for wider systems change.

Society can, and certainly those in power, can use language that passes the responsibility entirely to us. That we have to reduce our carbon footprint, so to speak. Now those actions do matter, but we obviously need big systems change.

She said: “Society can, and certainly those in power, can use language that passes the responsibility entirely to us. That we have to reduce our carbon footprint, so to speak. Now those actions do matter, but we obviously need big systems change.

“And that can leave us with the burden of guilt. So that kind of language can be wrong and very harmful.”

Aspey said climate communicators often face a difficult balance between conveying the seriousness of the crisis and avoiding messaging that makes people feel powerless.

She said different messages work for different people, adding that shocking information may prompt one person to act but cause another to switch off entirely.

The podcast also explored the limitations of a “facts first” approach to climate communication. Aspey said communication has often been treated as an “information deficit”, where people are expected to act once they are given enough evidence.

However, she said this does not work for everyone, particularly when climate information threatens people’s sense of safety, identity or connection.

“What people want to know is, first of all, they need to understand what it means for their safety,” she said. “Fundamentally, we’re hardwired to seek safety and we’re hardwired to seek connection.”

Aspey said building resilience in response to climate change should not be understood simply as “bouncing back” from disruption, but as something communities develop together.

She described resilience as “the glue that holds people together”, arguing that people need spaces to talk about difficult feelings, manage conflict and build what she called “cultures of care”.

The episode also considered the role of storytelling, language, nature connection and the psychological challenge of moving away from a culture built around endless growth.

Aspey said the Climate Psychology Alliance offers support spaces, youth spaces, climate café listening circles and training for organisations and communities.

The full episode of Beyond Waste is available to listen to now here. 

Or watch the episode on YouTube.

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Five people have been ordered to pay £6822 after they dumped the remains of a cannabis farm in Neath Valley.

Four men and a woman were prosecuted by Neath Port Talbot Council for their part in the fly-tipping. They were ordered to pay a combined total of £6822 by Swansea Magistrates Court.

Cabinet Member for Streetscene, Cllr Scott Jones, commented: “We have beautiful areas of forestry and countryside throughout the Neath Port Talbot County and people should be able to enjoy it responsibly without encountering dangerous deposits like this.”

“We hope this sends a strong message that regardless of how minor you think your role is in the illegal disposal of waste, you will still be held responsible.”

The waste was disposed of illegally on land in the Rheola forestry in the Neath Valley, which is owned by Natural Resources Wales.

NRW discovered correspondence within the waste that had been dumped on their land that pointed back to the defendents.

The combination of the document left at the scene, CCTV, and witness accounts resulted in the successful prosecution of five people in total.

During an earlier hearing at Swansea Magistrates Court in February 2026, four of the defendants pleaded guilty to the following offences.

Ian Jenkins pleaded guilty to an offence in relation to duty of care by failing to ensure the waste is disposed of lawfully.

Stephen Powell pleaded guilty to being the person in control of the vehicle used to unlawfully deposit controlled waste.

Keiron Powell and Darcy Thomas pleaded guilty to offences of unlawfully depositing controlled waste and transporting waste without a waste carriers’ licence.

Anthony Jones and another male pleaded not guilty and their cases were listed for trial. Jones was found was guilty of an offence of failing to ensure that the waste was disposed of lawfully, while the other man was acquitted.

The court also ordered the tipper vehicle to be forfeited to Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. The Council is now assessing the vehicle’s condition and it may end up being crushed.

James Roseblade, Land Management Senior Officer for NRW, said: “We welcome the court’s decision in this case and hope it sends a clear message that waste-related crime will not be tolerated and will be punished and NRW and its partners will continue to take appropriate enforcement action against those who break the law.”

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A South London incinerator has been granted permission to process tens of thousands of extra tonnes of waste each year despite breaching its environmental permit 916 times between 2022 and 2024.

Viridor Ltd can now increase the amount of waste it treats at its Beddington Energy-from-Waste (EfW) facility to 382,286 tonnes annually, an increase of almost 35 tonnes.

The move comes despite opposition from residents living in the area around the site who have complained of unpleasant odours coming from the facility and an increase in lorry traffic.

Chair of Sutton Council’s Environment & Sustainable Transport Committee, Christopher Woolmer, said they were ‘deeply disappointed’ by the decision.

“We argued that the site and plant lack the capacity to process the proposed amount of waste,” Woolmer continued.

“We are also concerned about Viridor’s repeated permit breaches, which last year resulted in a downgrading of their compliance rating.”

A Compliance Assessment Report (CAR) from the Environment Agency found that Viridor breached the site’s environmental permit 916 times between 2022 and 2024.

Viridor, which self-reported the non-compliance, said the breaches were caused by a third-party contractor.

The Environment Agency said it was satisfied Viridor’s application met all requirements under relevant environmental legislation and provides a ‘high-level of protection to the environment and human health’.

Matt Higginson, environment manager for the Environment Agency in Kent, South London and East Sussex, said environmental permits put ‘stringent conditions’ on waste sites.

“The environmental permit for Beddington is set at levels to protect human health and the environment,” Higginson continued.

“Emissions from the plant are monitored around the clock, and the data is rigorously assessed to identify if any breaches to the permit occur.”

The permit has also been updated to include an emission point associated with Waste Transfer Station (WTS) shredding equipment.

Planning permission for the Beddington energy-recovery facility was granted by Sutton Borough Council in May 2013.

This application also included accepting this new volume of waste and a ‘very large number’ of vehicle movements.

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14 months since the Birmingham bin strikes began, new research shows the disruption to recycling collections may have generated 10,000 tonnes in CO₂e emissions.

Refuse workers in Birmingham have been on strike for more than 440 days, with agency staff voting to join the industrial action last year, over the city council’s decision to remove Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) roles.

In April, Birmingham City Council and Unite the Union agreed a deal to end the year-long strike action by refuse workers in the city.

However, despite an end to the dispute being finally ‘within sight’, disruption to waste and recycling services continues across large parts of the city.

New research from Birmingham waste collection experts Divert estimates that between March 2025 and April 2026, the disruption may have generated an additional 10,000 tonnes of CO₂e emissions and cost the city £2.16 million.

Figures released by Birmingham City Council show that the recycling rate for the city dropped to approximately 14%, down from 23% before strike action.

Using these figures, alongside data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Divert found that as little as 26,685 tonnes may have been recycled during the year of strike action, a 17,154 tonnes reduction.

Using standard carbon conversion estimates for lost recycling, Divert says this would have generated approximately 10,000 tonnes of additional CO₂e emissions, depending on how the waste was treated and the mix of materials.

Alongside this, if all of this material had instead been landfilled, associated landfill tax charges alone could have reached £2.16 million.

Birmingham City Council’s financial monitoring report forecast that the one-off and direct costs of the industrial dispute could total £14.6m if the industrial action continued to the end of March 2026.

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With growing interest in the LATCo (Local Authority Trading Company) model, Norse Group CEO Justin Galliford explains how a trading company can succeed in waste services.

In my discussions with local government leaders, I have noticed that the LATCo model is back on the agenda.

This rising interest stems, I believe, from the continuing pressure on finances, and in particular the impact of devolution and local government reorganisation: this has led councils to consider service delivery, and which model offers the flexibility needed to make significant structural changes.

For those councils slated to form the new unitary authorities in 2027, the need to review their service delivery model is now pressing.

While the focus will inevitably be on adult social services and, in particular, children’s services, major cost savings will be achieved by amalgamating frontline services such as waste and recycling.

However, this will be far from easy. Merging councils will likely bring a range of existing delivery methods – some in-house, some outsourced – and arrangements that are not coterminous.

Procuring waste services – which will require major re-engineering to achieve economies of scale, and may happen over several years as existing contracts come to an end – will be extremely complex, and present significant risk, both financial and operational.

Many of the new authorities (and indeed those not involved in the first phase of LGR) will be considering bringing these services in-house: this offers the flexibility and direct control which will be necessary for a successful transition.

It also satisfies any ideological preference for insourcing. However, if this is the preferred route, it raises the question of the in-house set-up: DLO or LATCo?

The LATCo model offers a range of advantages over both outsourcing and traditional insourcing by a DLO:

• the combination of commercial knowhow and public service values can provide cost efficiency without diluting social value;
• profits are returned to the public purse rather than to private shareholders;
• the council has control over the company;
• and, perhaps most importantly, the flexibility to implement major changes to collection rounds without the need for contract re-negotiation, and without the risk of financial penalty in the form of variation charges.

But there is a further benefit, which is often overlooked when the focus is on operational activities and service re-engineering – the development of a commercial culture, and the revenue growth which can result.

At Norse, we have invested heavily over the years, particularly in our local authority partnerships, to drive external sales as well as the revenues from delivering partner councils’ services. Over the years, we have been able to develop a lucrative trade waste offer and win large numbers of contracts. 

This has the effect of increasing turnover and boosting profit share for our partner councils; reinvesting to provide security; protecting jobs and creating employment opportunities; helping the local economy; and increasing social value.

Returning profits to our partner councils also means that vital local services can be maintained and improved.

This exposure to market forces is also a key component in developing a commercial culture in the organisation, and is one of the ways in which a LATCo has the advantage over a traditional DLO, whilst retaining the benefits of insourcing.

But in my experience, it’s not enough on its own. At Norse, we have identified other factors which drive success:

• Empowering management teams.
• Investing in innovation.
• Hiring from the private sector.
• Service diversification.
• Cost control and operational efficiency.
• Support from the board and the council shareholders.
• Strong governance.

I believe that this combination of factors can make a LATCo truly effective, able to reach its full potential and make a significant contribution to local government in tough times.

Norse Group is the UK’s leading local authority trading company. Wholly owned by Norfolk County Council, Norse has developed a radical alternative to traditional outsourcing and in-house delivery – the joint venture partnership model.

The company has formed LATCos with over twenty local authorities, providing a wide range of services, including waste and environmental services. 

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A year on from the ban on disposable vapes, waste companies have called for a £5 deposit to be charged on vapes as an incentive to dispose of them properly.

As part of the proposals put forward by the Environmental Services Association (ESA), a deposit would be charged on vapes at the point of purchase and refunded when the customer returns the product to a collection point.

Biffa, the UK’s largest waste company, suggested the deposit should be £5, which is considerably higher than what will be charged as part of the UK’s deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers.

Under current legislation, retailers that sell vapes are legally required to offer a free in-store take-back service or recycling bin for used vaping devices. These points could be used by customers to redeem a deposit as part of a future scheme.

However, research by Material Focus found that 43% of people who tried to recycle their vape at a supermarket were unable to find a recycling point, and rising to 63% at local convenience stores, while this dropped to 33% at specialist vape retailers.

The environmental non-profit warned that a ‘retailer recycling lottery’ is undermining the environmental intentions behind the ban of disposable vapes, as recycling a vape is still not as easy as buying one.

In the year since the disposable vape ban was introduced on 1 June 2025, the number of vapes thrown away each week has decreased from 8.2 million to 6.3 million. However, the risk posed by improper disposal of these products remains.

Freedom of Information responses showed there were 1760 battery-linked fires in 2025, a 147% increase in just three years. This means UK fire brigades are tackling fires caused by a lithium-ion battery at a rate of once every five hours.

Local authorities are calling for a change to the definition of single-use vapes to close an ‘industry loophole’, reduce vape waste, and prevent dangerous bin lorry and waste fires.

The Local Government Association (LGA) wants the UK Government to tighten the statutory definition of a single-use vape to include disposable-style products, such as rechargeable options.

Cllr Dr Wendy Taylor MBE, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Health and Wellbeing Committee, commented: “The ban on single-use vapes was the right decision and councils continue to be strong supporters.”

“Year one of the ban has shown what regulation alone can achieve. Year two must focus on enforcement, producer responsibility, and closing this industry loophole to keep rechargeable vapes out of our waste system, preventing further fires and reducing unnecessary local resource drain.”

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News updates written by CIWM’s commercial partners.

Greyparrot | Kenvue partners with Greyparrot to accelerate circular consumer health packaging design

Kenvue, a consumer health product company behind Neutrogena, Listerine and Johnson’s Baby, has partnered with Greyparrot to move beyond theoretical recyclability assessments and ground its packaging decisions in real-world recovery data.

The collaboration will see Kenvue use Greyparrot’s Deepnest platform to track how its packaging performs inside commercial-scale sorting facilities across the UK and US, providing the kind of end-of-life evidence that brand sustainability teams have historically lacked.

From design intent to measurable performance

Kenvue’s portfolio includes some of the most widely recognised consumer health brands globally. Many of its packaging formats are designed to be recyclable, but component-level variables like pump mechanisms, label materials and translucency can significantly affect detection and recovery rates in real-world sorting environments.

Historically, packaging has been declared “recyclable” based on material composition, but whether it is detected, sorted, and recovered has remained largely opaque. The Deepnest system addresses that gap by analysing material directly inside operational recycling facilities, using AI-driven recognition to capture performance data that design-stage assessments cannot replicate.

Deepnest will allow Kenvue to quantify how individual products behave at facility level, and to model the downstream impact of potential design changes before committing to physical prototypes. That modelling capability is particularly relevant in the context of tightening regulation: as the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes develop, the ability to forecast the financial impact of packaging decisions is shifting from useful to essential.

“To help achieve our circular packaging goals, we must move beyond aspirational guidelines and embrace real-world evidence,” said David Lickstein, Global Head of Packaging Innovation, Sustainability, and Experience at Kenvue. “AI-driven waste intelligence allows us to go beyond simple tracking and into advanced scenario modelling, helping us identify the most impactful design changes and implement innovative solutions across our global portfolio faster and more cost-effectively than ever before.”

Closing the loop on packaging data

The partnership reflects a broader shift in how leading FMCG brands are approaching sustainable packaging. Regulatory pressure and internal sustainability commitments are converging to make real-world recyclability data a business requirement – not just a reporting asset.

Greyparrot’s Deepnest platform is already used by brands including L’Oréal Groupe and Unilever to assess packaging performance and support EPR compliance.

“Circular packaging is no longer an aspiration – it is fast becoming the standard,” said Ambarish Mitra, Co-founder of Greyparrot. “We’re proud to partner with Kenvue to turn design intent into measurable impact, helping set a new benchmark for how the industry designs, measures and delivers circularity.”

Addressing a system-wide data gap

The challenge Kenvue is addressing is not unique to its portfolio. Across the consumer goods sector, brands face a structural information gap at the end of their products’ lives.

Regulatory frameworks are beginning to close that gap by demanding performance evidence rather than design declarations. But the infrastructure to generate that evidence at meaningful scale has, until recently, been limited.

“Data is the ultimate catalyst for change in the sustainable packaging landscape, and AI has provided the means to deliver those insights at a truly global scale,” said Yaseed Chaumoo, Managing Director of Deepnest by Greyparrot. “This collaboration represents a significant step beyond waste tracking – it’s about utilising Deepnest’s predictive capabilities to model real-world recovery scenarios and empower Kenvue to make actionable, data-led design changes more quickly and cost-effectively than ever before.”

For the brands prepared to act on that data, the path from design intent to verified recyclability is becoming clearer.

Wood Recyclers’ Association | Segregate waste wood at source to maximise recycling potential

Waste producers are being urged to segregate their waste wood at source to ensure that as much as possible is recycled.

The Wood Recyclers’ Association (WRA) is encouraging those who produce or receive waste wood – such as waste management companies and local authorities – to remove contaminants and ensure material meets the specifications of their destination end markets.

In particular, the WRA is advising operators who would like their wood to be recycled, that they must remove MDF. This is important because the panel board sector – the UK’s largest recycler of waste wood – cannot accept MDF, as it causes processing problems and can lead to machinery blockages.

While this may not be possible at every site due to logistical constraints, the WRA says that separating out MDF can significantly increase recycling potential and improve environmental outcomes.

It also allows waste producers to work with multiple outlets, reducing reliance on a single processor or energy facility and providing more offtake options during periods of market volatility.

Mark Hayton, Chair of the WRA, said: “Over the past year market conditions have made it more challenging to find markets for waste wood. As a result, quality has become more important than ever with more offtake options for those producing a contaminant-free product which meets the necessary specifications of different end markets.”

He added: “In the panel board sector in particular, downtime is often caused by MDF, which can create blockages in machinery. Manufacturers could use more waste wood overall if they received MDF-free feedstock.”

Mark noted that many local authorities and waste management companies are now keen to supply both the panel board and biomass industries, but stressed that quality and correct segregation are essential.

He said: “If waste producers want to maximise recycling potential and help the environment, they need to keep wood suitable for recycling separate from other material.”

“Focusing on quality and segregation gives producers the widest possible choice of outlets and helps protect against future market volatility,” he said.

Plan B | Plan B’s first Materials Recovery Facility is open

In a first for Plan B Management Solutions, our Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is now open for business. Located in Cardiff with the capacity to handle up to 75,000 tonnes per year, we’re ready to serve the community and to strengthen local employment opportunities too.

“The investment in our own material processing infrastructure is an exciting new phase in our growth which will allow Plan B to better serve our clients. We hope this will be the first MRF of many”, said Maz Akhtar, Managing Director, Plan B Management Solutions.

Our team will be responsible for separating the material into high quality baled recyclates, operating plan machinery, and ensuring the site runs smoothly and safely.

We’ll be sorting plastics, steel and aluminium cans, as well as paper-based materials. The design of the facility has been carefully considered to reduce the risk of fire from lithium-ion batteries and disposable vapes. These items will be separated early in the process and we’ve also installed a fire suppression system and an automatic foam cannon, which can be remotely controlled.

Dr Margaret Bates opened the facility during our launch event for industry representatives and members of the press in late April. She said: “When I first started at PackUK, we were talking about what EPR should aim to do. This kind of facility is exactly what we want the scheme to do. I’m grateful for the opportunity to see the sensible flow of the material through the plant, and really get a feel of the collaborative spirit behind it.”

Craig Cutajar, Materials Director, Plan B Management Solutions added: “We would like to congratulate our team who have worked tirelessly from site acquisition in July 2024 to today to make our vision a reality.”

VEV | Don’t wait – move now to maximise government funding for your eRCVs 

The Depot Charging Scheme should be viewed as a strategic opportunity rather than a routine grant.

Alongside the Plug-in Truck Grant, it is one of the most important opportunities available to waste operators looking to bring depot electrification forward and accelerate eRCV adoption in the UK, with one scheme supporting the vehicle and the other supporting the infrastructure behind it.  

Because funding is being awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and because grant support may reduce in future application windows, the message for waste fleet operators is clear: move now to maximise the funding available in Wave 1.  

For organisations operating multiple depots, this means taking a full view of the estate and deciding which sites are best placed to be submitted first. A sequenced approach to depot electrification can bring multiple waste depots into scope over time, while allowing operators to prioritise the locations that are most ready now. That in turn can accelerate eRCV adoption and support wider fleet decarbonisation plans across collections, street cleansing and municipal operations.  

The organisations that will benefit most from this scheme will not be the ones that simply understand it. They will be the ones that act on it quickly – defining which depots to electrify, understanding power requirements for eRCV charging, costing the opportunity, aligning internal stakeholders and getting ready to submit a strong application in Wave 1.

How we can help 

VEV acts as the enabler for waste operators looking to turn funding opportunities into fully deliverable electrification programmes. We support customers end-to-end: taking a whole-estate view to identify and prioritise the right depots, building a sequenced electrification roadmap, assessing site readiness, modelling power and grid requirements, developing robust cost estimates and business cases, and supporting both grid applications and grant submissions.  

Our focus is not just on supporting fleets to secure funding, but on making projects real and deliverable at pace. We have already supported customers through previous phases of the Depot Charging Scheme and are now working with operators to maximise their position in the current application window.  

For waste operators, electrification presents unique operational considerations, from overnight charging strategies and route optimisation to ensuring sufficient power capacity for high utilisation eRCVs. With grant support expected to reduce in future waves, the urgency is clear: maximise Wave 1 funding and bring forward electrification plans now. 

If you want to move quickly, prioritise the right sites and submit a strong, credible application for your waste fleet, VEV can help you do exactly that. 

What is the Depot Charging Scheme? 

The UK government has opened a major funding opportunity for fleet operators planning the shift to zero-emission vehicles. The Depot Charging Scheme is designed to support the uptake of zero-emission HGVs, vans, coaches and specialist commercial vehicles by part-funding the installation of charging infrastructure at fleet depots. For the waste sector, this includes the transition to battery-electric refuse collection vehicles (eRCVs).                                                                                                         

This is a significant programme, following a successful 2025/26 pilot, the government has launched a £170 million multi-year funding programme running from April 2026 to 2030. Of that, £66 million will be available across two application windows this year, with £28 million for window 1 and £38 million for window 2.  

The Plug-in Truck Grant – a quick overview 

The Plug-in Truck Grant provides direct financial support to reduce the upfront cost of purchasing zero-emission trucks. Available to businesses and fleet operators, the grant offers a discount at the point of purchase, covering up to 40% of the vehicle cost. This support is designed to bridge the cost gap between diesel and electric HGVs, making it easier for operators to begin transitioning their fleets. For the waste sector, the grant can help accelerate investment in eRCVs as manufacturers continue to expand available vehicle options and operational capabilities. 

How much funding is available per company? 

For the current application window, the scheme will cover up to 70% of the charging infrastructure cost, with a maximum of £1 million across all sites per company. Grid connection and substation costs are not eligible. However, solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS), where they directly provide energy for charging, are covered. That level of support could make a meaningful difference for waste operators that have been weighing up the business case for eRCV depot electrification but have been hesitant because of infrastructure costs.  

The government has also made clear that grant funding rates will reduce over the lifetime of the programme as charging infrastructure becomes more affordable. For many organisations, that makes this first round especially appealing.  

Who can apply? 

The eligibility criteria are broad, but there are still several conditions businesses need to meet. Applicants must be registered and operating in the UK, and both the organisation and its vehicle fleet must have been operating for at least one year at the time of application. They must also own or lease one or more UK depots and use the funding only within the UK.  

Applicants must have a fleet that includes, or will include, at least one battery-electric van, HGV, coach or eRCV, and the application must quantify how that rollout affects EV charging needs. A senior leader in the organisation must also approve the proposal.  

Final thoughts 

The Depot Charging Scheme is one of the clearest signals yet that the UK government wants to accelerate the transition to zero-emission commercial fleets. With substantial capital support available, it creates a real opportunity for waste operators to move faster on electrification and begin scaling eRCV deployment across their operations.  

But it is also a scheme that rewards readiness. With a first-come, first-served process, a hard deadline of 30 June 2026, and only one application per organisation, the businesses most likely to benefit will be the ones that move early, plan carefully and put forward a strong, joined-up case.  

At VEV, we’ve helped over 40 businesses with their application for the scheme. If you would like support with depot electrification or funding applications for your eRCV transition, contact us ask@vev.com.

Routeware | Routeware Expands UK Presence with Acquisition of PermiServ

Routeware, a global provider of innovative, AI-powered solutions for waste and environmental services, today announced the acquisition of PermiServ, the UK market leader in garden waste permit management for local authorities.

Together the combined platform will give councils access to AI-driven tools that were previously out of reach for most local authorities.

The acquisition reinforces Routeware’s long-term commitment to supporting UK local authorities with market leading solutions that simplify operations, improve resident experience, and strengthen environmental service delivery. Routeware currently works with over 100 UK local authorities and has recently launched its latest local government waste and recycling technology platform. Routeware SmartCity enables local authorities of all sizes to reduce costs, improve productivity and increase crew safety by streamlining processes, automating tasks and using data more effectively.

PermiServ works with councils across the UK to manage subscription-based garden waste services, providing end-to-end permit administration, fulfilment logistics, and resident communications. Its purpose-built software and managed services help councils reduce administrative burden, improve compliance visibility, and deliver reliable services to residents.

Together, Routeware and PermiServ will offer local authorities a more connected operating model – linking resident engagement, permitting, routing, in-cab systems, compliance workflows, and service optimisation into a cohesive platform.

A Shared Commitment to Modern Council Services

The addition of PermiServ strengthens Routeware’s presence at a critical point of interaction between councils and residents, expanding its ability to support the full lifecycle of subscription-based services – from sign-up and permitting through to collection, compliance, and performance visibility.

Jeremy Collins, CEO of Routeware, said:

“PermiServ has established itself as the trusted market leader in garden waste permit management for UK local authorities. Their strong council relationships, operational expertise, and resident-focused approach align perfectly with Routeware’s mission to simplify environmental services through connected technology. We are pleased to welcome John and the PermiServ team to Routeware and look forward to investing further in solutions that councils and residents rely on every day.”

John Bayley, Founder and Managing Director of PermiServ, added:

“Our focus has always been on helping councils deliver efficient, well-managed garden waste services without adding complexity to their operations. Joining Routeware enables us to enhance our technology capabilities, broaden integration opportunities, and continue serving our customers with the same commitment and reliability — now backed by the scale and innovation of a global platform.”

Continued Focus on the UK Market

PermiServ will continue to operate with its existing team and customer focus, ensuring continuity of service for councils. Customers will maintain their current relationships and points of contact.

The combined organisation will focus on:

• Enhancing integration between permitting, routing, and resident engagement systems
• Supporting councils in streamlining service workflows and reducing manual processes
• Investing in digital tools that strengthen compliance, reporting, and service transparency
• Expanding Routeware’s long-term investment and presence within the UK local authority sector

Routeware has made significant investment in the UK market in recent years, and this acquisition further demonstrates its commitment to working in partnership with local authorities to support modern, efficient and resident-focused environmental services.

Dennis Eagle | Dennis Eagle Awarded ISO 45001 Certification, Reinforcing its Commitment to Health and Safety Standards

Dennis Eagle, the UK’s industry leader in the design and manufacture of refuse collection vehicles (RCVs), has been awarded ISO 45001 certification for its Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) management systems, further strengthening its commitment to protecting employee wellbeing and maintaining the highest safety standards across its operations. 

A globally recognised standard, ISO 45001 supports organisations in proactively identifying and managing risk, preventing work-related injuries and illnesses, and driving continuous improvement in overall safety performance. Following a comprehensive series of assessments over several months, both Dennis Eagle and its trading division, Terberg Matec UK, have achieved the internationally recognised certification. 

This important milestone builds on Dennis Eagle’s existing ISO credentials. In 2023, the company achieved ISO 9001 for quality management and ISO 14001 for environmental management systems. Dennis Eagle undertook a rigorous, intensive and methodical approach to achieving ISO 45001 certification, led by Health and Safety Manager, Richard Young. 

“Health and Safety has always been a top priority for our business — it’s embedded into everything we do,” said Young. “This certification formalises the strong standards we already have in place and provides a robust framework to sustain them. ISO 45001 brings greater consistency, accountability and a continued focus on proactive risk management. For our customers, it provides confidence that our business meets recognised international standards, not just in quality and environmental performance, but in health and safety, too.”

Dennis Eagle’s Health & Safety team (L-R): Paula Rourke, Health and Safety Support Assistant; Ged Deehan, Lead Safety Coordinator (Blackpool and Warrington); Richard Young, Health and Safety Manager; Patrick Ogbebor, H&S Compliance and ISO 45001 Coordinator; Scott McKinlay, Lead Safety Coordinator (Warwick).

Dennis Eagle underwent rigorous assessments across its main manufacturing sites in Blackpool, Worksop, Warrington and Warwick to demonstrate compliance. Its Manchester Service Centre was also evaluated, serving as a benchmark for standardised procedures across all other Service Centres. 

“Protecting our people isn’t just an aspiration,” continued Young. “It’s built into how we operate. Achieving ISO 45001 reflects the systems, standards and accountability we’ve put in place to ensure everyone goes home safe, every day. Driven by our four core pillars — Production, Quality, Health and Safety, and Environmental — we apply consistent standards across everything we do for our people, suppliers and customers. Achieving ISO 45001 is independent recognition that these standards are embedded in how we operate and is a milestone we’re exceptionally proud of.”

The audit was conducted by global assurance partner LRQA in two stages during the first quarter of 2026, following an initial assessment by Make UK, the recognised champion for UK manufacturing. Looking ahead, Dennis Eagle has established a comprehensive ISO 45001 roadmap to maintain momentum and drive continuous improvements in safety performance and risk management. 

“We can’t rest on our laurels,” said Scott McKinlay, Lead Safety Coordinator at Dennis Eagle’s Warwick headquarters. “Even though we’ve met the standard for ISO 45001, there is always work to be done to keep the momentum going. We remain focused on continuously reviewing and improving our processes to ensure we build on this progress and maintain the highest possible standards across the business.”

Vizzia | Vizzia partners with London Borough of Harrow to bring AI-assisted fly-tipping enforcement to UK councils

Fly-tipping remains one of the most persistent problems local authorities face. According to DEFRA, 1.26 million incidents were recorded last year, and only 5% lead to any formal enforcement action.

The reason is rarely a lack of legal powers. Councils can issue Fixed Penalty Notices and pursue prosecutions under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 but the problem is capacity. Resource-constrained officer teams do not have the hours in the day to review footage, identify offenders, build evidence packs, and process every case that comes in.

This is the gap that Vizzia has now arrived in the UK to address. The European technology company, which specialises in AI-assisted enforcement for local authorities, has been working with 250 local authorities across Europe and is now entering the UK market, with a first deployment under way with London Borough of Harrow. A London office is set to open later this year to support the wider rollout across the country.

The platform pairs redeployable 4G/5G cameras with an AI detection layer. Each evening, the system catalogues incidents and delivers them ready for review to the officer the following morning. A typical catalogued case includes a short video clip, the vehicle registration captured through ANPR, GPS coordinates, a timestamp, and the forensic metadata required to support an FPN or, where needed, a court prosecution. The company claims their software detects incidents with 95% accuracy. By removing the manual bottleneck between detection and enforcement, officers spend their time on investigation and decision making rather than wading through footage.

Vizzia arrives in the UK with experience across multiple councils across the European public sector. Over that period, the company has worked with more than 250 local authorities, including Bondy and Sarcelles in the Paris region, Orléans in central France, and Grandson in Switzerland. Across these deployments, councils have used the platform to reduce illegal dumping at monitored hotspots, free up officer time, and shift fly-tipping enforcement from a reactive workload into a managed pipeline. “We are not a CCTV provider. We are a hardware, software, and services company who’s a trusted partner to hundreds of local governments across the EU and now the UK. When it comes to reducing illegal waste dumping, we want to be accountable for outcomes. You can only do that if you operate across the value chain.” said Alain-Charles Lauriano, UK Country Lead at Vizzia.

Richard Antcliff, former public protection lead at Harrow, set out the council’s rationale for the partnership in a recent webinar. “There is not a lot around AI that is suitable for local authority at the minute. What impressed us with Vizzia was the clarity of the camera, the fact that it picks up vehicle registration numbers, and most importantly that it can tell the difference between a bag that wasn’t there five minutes ago and a bag that has appeared. It automatically records the footage, catalogues it, and emails it to the officer on the case.”

This first deployment sits within a wider conversation about how UK councils should respond to environmental crime. Recent local elections have again highlighted that the pressure on councils is mounting from both directions: residents demand visible action on fly-tipping, while budgets and enforcement headcount keep shrinking. Most authorities are now asked to do more with less, and the gap between reported incidents and successful prosecutions has widened year on year. The councils pulling ahead are the ones treating enforcement as a workflow problem, not a surveillance one; moving from passive CCTV monitoring to evidence pipelines that turn incidents into FPNs and prosecutions at pace.

Vizzia is headquartered in Paris, France, and has raised €40 million from private investors to support its international expansion.

FCC Environment | 2026 Elections: Redrawing the political map

This year’s local elections felt like yet another redrawing of the political map. The results paint a clear picture of the ongoing polarisation within British politics – with Reform and the Greens being the big winners from May’s elections.

The results don’t just tell a wider story but will have a clear impact on how local authorities across England operate.

The results from the 7th of May point to the end of two-party politics as we know it. Labour suffered a clear case of mid-term blues, with voters turning away from the party in their droves, and the Conservatives don’t yet seem to have found their floor after losing the 2024 General Election. Reform was the standout party this time round, gaining more than 1,400 councillors and taking control of multiple councils – including the party’s first London Borough. The Green Party and Liberal Democrats also made inroads, winning seats from the Tories and Labour.

Voters are increasingly turning to a wider range of political voices, straying from their usual voting patterns, further highlighting dissatisfaction with the established parties and a push for alternatives. The rise of smaller and newer parties and the increased number of councils with no overall control following these local elections suggests that coalition style governance will become a more common occurrence on a local level.

Local authorities are the frontline of waste and recycling services, and the changes in political leadership can influence and shape priorities and approaches to the delivery of services. But with over 5,000 seats contested, many newly elected councillors will be stepping into the role for the first time, and there needs to be a period of education on how services are delivered – something I’m sure the brilliant waste and recycling officers across the country have already started doing.

While political control shifts, the overarching policy direction for the waste sector remains broadly consistent. As Simpler Recycling continues to embed itself, councils of all political makeup will need to adapt to the new framework and support the UK’s circular economy goals.

The 2026 local elections have shown how the sands of British politics are shifting. For the waste and recycling sector, we will need to understand the nuances of local priorities and administrations, while continuing to deliver our core public service that is so important to local pride, public health and environmental outcomes.

Contel Ltd marks major year of growth as demand for connected fleet safety and AI technology increases across UK waste sector

Contel Ltd, the specialist provider of vehicle safety, camera, telematics and connected fleet technology, has reported a significant year of growth as more local authorities and waste operators look to strengthen vehicle safety, improve operational visibility and adopt smarter fleet systems.

The business, led by Co-CEOs Andy Kelly and Thomas Finlay, has expanded its team, grown its customer base, strengthened its engineering capability and passed a major milestone of more than 7,000 live connected devices operating across UK fleets.

Over the past 12 months, Contel has continued to invest in the people, systems and technical expertise required to support a growing customer base. The company now employs 22 people, with new roles introduced this year including General Manager, Technical Document Writer, Operations Support Administrator, Lead Technical Engineer and Junior Management Accountant. The company is also recruiting for a Data and Integration AI Engineer as it continues to develop its connected systems and data-led fleet safety offering.

Contel’s service engineering team has more than doubled in the past 12 months and now includes nine engineers, with further recruitment underway. This growth has strengthened the company’s ability to provide responsive installation, maintenance and technical support to customers operating essential fleet services across the UK.

Recent local authority wins include Wokingham, Dartford, Hyndburn, Pendle, South Ribble, Barnsley, Oldham, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Birmingham City and Castle Point, reflecting the company’s growing presence within the municipal waste and environmental services sector.

The growth follows strong financial performance, with Contel achieving 49% growth last year and forecasting further growth of more than 30% this year.

A key area of development for the business has been the advancement of its AI camera platform, which represents a major leap forward in Contel’s connected fleet safety capability. The platform has been developed to help operators improve visibility, support safer driving behaviours, identify risk and make better use of data across their fleets.

Contel has also been working in partnership with Biffa on “Binsight”, a food waste recycling participation solution designed to provide greater insight into household food waste engagement. The joint solution has already generated significant interest, reflecting the growing focus on participation, behaviour change and data-led decision-making as the waste sector prepares for further changes in recycling requirements.

Andy Kelly, Co-CEO of Contel Ltd, said: “Over the past year, Contel has grown in a very focused and sustainable way. We have invested in people, strengthened our engineering team and continued to develop the connected solutions our customers need to operate safer, smarter and more efficient fleets.”

“The waste and environmental services sector is under pressure to improve safety, reduce risk and make better use of data. Our role is to help operators and local authorities bring together vehicle safety technology, cameras, telematics and connected systems in a way that gives them real operational value.”

“Reaching more than 7,000 live connected devices is a major milestone for the business, but what matters most is what that means for our customers. It means more visibility, better reporting, quicker support and a stronger platform for future innovation.”

Contel works with fleets across waste management, local authority services, highways, logistics and specialist transport. Its solutions include AI camera systems, 360-degree camera technology, telematics, radar detection, turn alarms, driver safety systems and integrated connected platforms designed to support compliance, safety and operational performance.

The company’s continued investment in AI, data and integration reflects a wider shift within the sector, as fleet operators look beyond standalone products and move towards connected systems that can support decision-making, identify risks and provide better insight across vehicles, drivers and operations.

Thomas Finlay, Co-CEO of Contel Ltd, added: “The market is moving quickly. Customers want technology that is joined up, practical and capable of supporting real operational improvements. Our AI camera platform, our connected device network and our partnership work with organisations such as Biffa are all part of that bigger picture.”

“We are proud of the progress Contel has made, but we are also very focused on what comes next. The next stage is about continuing to innovate, supporting more customers and helping the sector get more value from the technology already operating across its fleets.”

Contel’s growth comes at a time when local authorities and waste operators are reviewing how vehicle safety systems, AI, data and connected fleet technology can support safer operations, improved recycling participation and more informed decision-making in increasingly complex working environments.

Beyondly | Compliance and competitiveness: The case for UK EU alignment

The value of UK exports was £925.5 billion in 2025, up 3.1% on 2024. In 2025, the share of UK goods exports going to the EU was 48.0% compared with 47.2% in 2015. The EU is moving forward on environmental compliance, and alignment is critical to reduce compliance costs and avoid double regulation for UK firms.

Carbon Border Adjustments: Aligning the Price of Carbon

The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is the most prominent attempt to extend domestic climate ambition across borders. CBAM puts a price on the greenhouse gas emissions embedded in certain imports, preventing companies from dodging carbon costs by sourcing from jurisdictions with weaker rules. It initially targets six sectors: cement, iron and steel, electricity, aluminium, fertilisers, and hydrogen with plans to expand to all products under the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS). From January 2026, importers must purchase CBAM certificates linked to the EU ETS weekly market price.

The UK has announced its own CBAM, due to come into force in 2027, which differs from the EU model in scope and pricing mechanism; adding glass and ceramics but excluding electricity. If multiple regimes demand reporting on different terms and against different timelines, the result will burden importers and suppliers alike. Harmonising measurement, reporting, and mutual recognition of carbon prices offers the practical path forward.

Packaging

The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) becomes applicable from 12 August 2026 and aligns regulations across multiple EU jurisdictions. The Regulation sets harmonised requirements across all 27 member states; covering recyclability (from 2028), minimum recycled content in plastic packaging (from 2030), packaging minimisation standards (by 2027), empty-space reduction (from 2028), reusable packaging (from 2030), and importantly labelling (from 2028). Elements of PPWR will apply in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework. For businesses trading across multiple EU jurisdictions, such convergence is welcome; managing divergent national rules on packaging compliance across waste streams is costly and complex. Aligned regulation drives investment in circular solutions by giving a single, consistent market signal.

As the UK considers packaging labelling schemes, it would be encouraging to see alignment with EU regulations on this area in particular.

Shared Ambition and Accountability

Carbon pricing and packaging circularity each demonstrate the same principle unilateral action, however ambitious, is diminished when policies diverge across the jurisdictions through which goods, materials, and waste flow. International alignment does not require identical laws, it requires common principles, interoperable frameworks, and mutual recognition of equivalent effort. Achieving net zero will be faster, more durable, and more equitable when nations act together.

Vision Techniques | Vision Techniques Sales Director cycles 250km to raise vital funds for charity

Determined to make a difference in the fight against Motor Neurone Disease, Vision Techniques Sales Director Dave Prince has taken on an epic 250km cycling challenge to raise vital funds for the MND Association.

From May 1 to 31, Dave has challenged himself to cycle the full distance in support of the charity which helps people across the UK living with Motor Neurone Disease, an incurable condition that, according to the MND Association, claims six lives every day.

Throughout the month, Dave has battled a range of difficult weather conditions including soaring temperatures, massive hail stones and torrential rain but despite this he has remained determined to complete the ride.

Speaking about his challenge, Dave said: “I do a cycling challenge every year and always choose a different charity, I do it both to raise vital funds but also because it gives me an excuse to get out there and on my bike.

“I chose MND Association this year because I see the impact Motor Neurone Disease has on people and their loved ones.

“When I saw the charity come up as an option I chose it straight away, I thought I would give it go and try my best.

“I will be honest the final week has been a challenge because of course life has slightly got in the way and so I am having to complete 180km in one week but I have not given up and I’m glad I took on the challenge.”

Dave is a dedicated member of the Vision Techniques team, travelling across the country to meet with customers, while also balancing family life and performing his 90s Revival gigs.

Despite his busy schedule, he continues to take on new challenges in support of worthwhile causes, and even takes his bike to shows to get the miles in.

To support Dave’s fundraising efforts, visit: https://mnd.sync.giving/fr/cr-rq3951mp5ndjy.

To find out more about Vision Techniques, go to: https://www.vision-techniques.com/.

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Chelsea Kerr, Managing Director at Too Good To Go UK & Ireland, explains why better system design encourages sustainable behaviour change, not catchy slogans.

Consumers want to make sustainable choices, but behaviour will only change at scale when we are able to build operating systems that make those choices more accessible.

Sustainability messaging for consumers focuses increasingly on raising awareness, but in reality, there are far more practical reasons why lasting behavioural change is difficult to create.

Three-quarters of UK adults say they have made lifestyle changes to help tackle environmental issues. Yet despite wider public understanding, sustainable behaviour often remains inconsistent.

The reason is simple: affordability and convenience remain two of the biggest barriers preventing consumers from committing to more sustainable habits.

In fact, the proportion of consumers saying they have not taken one or more sustainable actions because it is too expensive has risen significantly in recent years, increasing from 52% in 2022 to 61% in 2024.

The broader economic context is also hugely relevant. Rising food prices, ongoing supply chain disruption and wider geopolitical uncertainty are placing even greater pressure on household budgets. Shoppers have been forced to adapt their habits, with 85% worried about food prices and 43% buying cheaper products as a result.

In this environment, it is important to make sustainable food shopping more economically accessible, while also communicating these options to consumers in ways that feel practical, relevant and achievable in everyday life. 

That gap between acknowledgement and action presents a challenge for businesses, but it also represents an opportunity.

Every day, organisations shape behaviour through things like packaging, store layouts, delivery models and operational systems. Whether intentional or not, businesses have a significant influence on consumer behaviour.

Sustainable actions are no different. People are far more likely to choose the option that is easiest, quickest and gives the greatest value for money. 

For retail and hospitality, that means making lower-waste choices easier and more accessible in practice. Across the sector, including through initiatives like Too Good To Go, businesses are increasingly using smarter markdown processes, surplus redistribution and digital tools to help consumers access food that would otherwise go to waste.

Research has shown that strategic markdown pricing can help reduce unnecessary waste while making lower-cost food more accessible to consumers, helping sustainable choices feel more practical in everyday life.

This is the principle that underpins Too Good To Go’s work with our partners. By helping retailers and food businesses connect surplus food with consumers in real time, we’re supporting a shift where sustainability is not an additional action, but part of the normal flow of how food is bought, sold, and consumed.

Ultimately, the most effective path to reducing food waste is not about asking consumers to change behaviour in isolation; it’s about helping businesses to build systems that allow consumers to make better choices.

When sustainability is embedded into everyday experiences, it becomes not just possible, but practical, repeatable, and scalable.

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The Environment Agency has released a watchlist of 117 high-priority waste sites it says are ‘causing concerns within local communities’.

Published as part of the government’s waste crime action plan, the watchlist covers 117 waste sites in England that the Environment Agency considers high-priority.

The list includes the name of the site, its location, the type of waste there, and how many tonnes of waste are located at the site.

The Environment Agency says it is restricted in the details it publishes to ensure it doesn’t prejudice ongoing enquiries and any associated enforcement action.

However, it committed to sharing more details on individual sites when they become available this summer.

Dan Cooke, Director of Policy, Communications and External Affairs at the CIWM, said ‘greater focus and transparency’ was positive and welcomed the list of high priority sites.

“Those involved in illegal waste activity should know that they are in the spotlight and that there are consequences to their actions that damage communities, environments and local economies,” Cooke said.

“The responsible resources and waste sector (both local authorities and private sector service providers) encourage and expect effective regulatory action to be taken against those involved at these sites where waste crime is proven.”

The largest site on the watchlist contains 281,000 tonnes of contaminated soil and is located in Northwich, Cheshire.

There were three other sites on the watchlist where over 100,000 tonnes of waste were deposited. These included:

Other notable sites on the watchlist include the illegal waste dumps next to the River Cherwell in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, and the site on Bolton House Road, which is owned in part by King Charles.

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