A load of rubbish? UK plastics recycling industry under fire

Madeleine Cuff
clock • 8 min read

A flurry of stories this week have exposed the chaos at the heart of the UK's plastics recycling system, presenting major risks for businesses

The UK recycling system is in a mess. A system of collection, processing, and recycling, paid for in part by retailers and manufacturers and in part by taxpayers, is supposed to promote a circular economy...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Recycling

UK Packaging PRO appointed to deliver national packaging scheme

UK Packaging PRO appointed to deliver national packaging scheme

Government confirms industry-backed group is to manage Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, as part of efforts to better incentivise firms to switch to sustainable materials

James Murray
clock 23 March 2026 • 3 min read
Asda recycles 20 million coffee pods through Podback

Asda recycles 20 million coffee pods through Podback

Supermarket celebrates 'major milestone' from its first year working with the Podback recycling scheme

clock 20 March 2026 • 2 min read
 Just Eat to deliver plastic-free takeaway boxes across European markets

Just Eat to deliver plastic-free takeaway boxes across European markets

Just Eat launches plastic-free coating for takeaway boxes in partnership with Cambridge-based materials innovator Xampla and global packaging manufacturer Huhtamaki

clock 13 March 2026 • 2 min read