On the 29th January, Government announced that disposable vapes will be banned in England, Scotland and Wales as part of plans to create a ‘smokefree generation’.

‘DEFRAs ban will have a positive impact on our environment. 5 million disposable vapes are thrown away each week, up from 1.3 million last year. Over a year this is equivalent to the lithium batteries of 5,000 electric vehicles.

Enforcement of the disposables ban will be carried out through Trading Standards Officers.’

The proposals will also ‘restrict flavours specifically marketed at children, ensuring manufactures produce plainer, less visually appealing packaging’ for reuseable vapes.

The Great British Spring Clean is the nation’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign.

In 2024, the campaign returns from 15 March to 31 March.

Last year, our incredible #LitterHeroes pledged to pick more than 400,000 bags of litter throughout the campaign period.

See Keep Britain Tidy for more details.

Want to litter pick at another time of year? See our Get Involved pages.

‘The Environment Agency is urging businesses and the public to help in the fight against waste crime.

Waste crime is a blight on our communities and environment. From blatant examples like fly-tipping rubbish by the roadside to environmental permit breaches and money-laundering, these activities can endanger people’s safety and undermine legitimate waste businesses.

On top of that, waste crime costs the economy in England an estimated £1 billion per year – that’s the same as the combined starting salary of over 38,000 newly-qualified nurses.’

See this Environment Agency press release to find out what actions are currently taking place and how we can work together to reduce this problem.

Notting Hill Carnival is Europe’s biggest annual festival in London that attracts 2 million partygoers over the August Bank Holiday.

SUEZ recycling and recovery UK has been involved in the clean-up for Carnival since 1997 on behalf of Kensington and Chelsea Council.

Over two evenings, dedicated waste crews from SUEZ work through the night to clear away rubbish and cleanse the streets.

This 9 minute behind-the-scenes film (YouTube) by SUEZ recycling and recovery UK reveals the planning involved to remove over 300 tonnes of litter!

One of the ways to stop crime in the waste sector is through working with Government to improve the regulatory system to make it harder for crime to be possible.

Proposed changes to the waste exemptions regime will bring protection to legitimate businesses in the waste industry, because we know that some types of waste exemptions have been routinely used by unscrupulous operators to hide illegal waste activities from regulatory control, whilst providing a veil of legitimacy.

Check what is changing and get yourself ready for change, as you may need to restrict your waste activity, get a permit or stop altogether.

See this Environment Agency blog to find out more.