This week has seen some EfW companies make significant strides in waste management and recycling technology. Find out what they are in this week's news bulletin:

Following the lifting of DEFRA’s ban on energy-from-waste (EfW) permits, MVV has received approval for a permit to establish a new EfW facility

MVV Enviroment’s Medworth facility, located in Cambridgeshire, will have a capacity of 625,600 tonnes of waste per annum and will feature two thermal treatment lines. The Environment Agency issued the permit on 29 May, just a few days after Defra lifted the ban. Before this year’s Energy from Waste conference in London, we caught up with Dr. Christian Hower-Knobloch, Managing Director of MVV Enviroment’s sister group MVV Umwelt GmbH, to find out his thoughts on the UK’s EfW industry. Read it here. 

From new facilities to new technology - Veolia has unveiled an AI-powered robotic arm that streamlines recycling efficiency

Veolia has unveiled the installation of a robotic arm that will streamline the picking process at its Southwark integrated waste management facility (IWMF). The Director of sustainable technology at Veolia, Tim Duret, said that Veolia “embraces this once in a generation opportunity to integrate new technologies in our UK infrastructure to further optimise our recycling processes.”

Did you think you could get through an EfW News bulletin without hearing about the General Election? The CIWM has issued a resources policy blueprint

With the general election on the horizon, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has revisited Defra’s ‘Resources and Waste Strategy for England’ to pinpoint policy gaps that need to be addressed for the UK’s future needs. The recommendations were divided into actions for the first two years of the new government and further policy changes for the subsequent three to five years. Expect more election-related updates until July 4.

Wales has been ranked #2 in the world for recycling

Wales has achieved a commendable 59% recycling rate, according to a study by Eunomia, placing it second in the world. Austria leads the rankings, while England and Scotland are ranked 11th and 15th, respectively.

And finally: Going to a festival this summer? Decathlon will buy back your tent

The tent company has announced its ‘No Tent Left Behind’ campaign to address the waste generated by festivals, which amounted to approximately 23,500 tonnes in the UK in 2020. Customers are encouraged to return their tents after use, contributing to waste reduction efforts.