June 2025: Key UK Waste, Recycling and Circular Economy Headlines

June’s developments revealed a sector pushing hard for progress, yet still grappling with operational challenges, policy gaps, and rising public expectations. From food waste collection controversies to landmark landfill legislation, here are the most important headlines that shaped the month:

Challenges Facing the UK Food Waste Bin Rollout: Biosecurity and Wildlife Risks

A £5.6 million food waste bin rollout in the New Forest made national headlines for an unexpected reason—roaming donkeys raiding unsecured containers. While the imagery may have captured public imagination, the implications are serious. Experts flagged risks to biosecurity, including the spread of diseases like foot-and-mouth and African swine fever, along with public hygiene concerns.

The incident highlights the importance of designing secure, species-conscious systems when implementing food waste services in rural or semi-rural areas. It also underscores a wider challenge: how to scale food waste collections quickly, without compromising safety, compliance, or local context.

New Report: Circular Economy Could Add £25 Billion to UK GDP by 2035

A major report published in June by a cross-party parliamentary group revealed that fully embracing circular economy principles could deliver a £25 billion economic boost by 2035. Key measures identified include implementing a national right to repair, investing in domestic re-use and recycling infrastructure, and mandating whole-economy targets for resource use.

The report also warned that fragmented efforts won’t be enough. System-wide thinking, backed by long-term government support and regulatory alignment, will be needed if the UK is to meet its climate and material efficiency targets.

Scotland’s 2026 Landfill Ban Raises Infrastructure and Export Concerns

Scotland is preparing to ban landfill disposal of household black bin waste from January 2026. However, with its domestic energy-from-waste capacity not yet ready to absorb the shift, plans are now in place to transport as many as 100 truckloads of residual waste per day to incineration facilities in England.

The move has sparked concern across the UK waste sector. Critics argue the policy, while ambitious, is not yet backed by adequate infrastructure. Others warn it could increase emissions, create regulatory conflicts, and put pressure on already stretched English facilities.

Wales Releases National Waste & Recycling Collections Strategy for 2025

Wales continues to lead the UK in household recycling rates and is now reinforcing its position with a new national blueprint. The Collections Blueprint 2025 outlines measures to standardise local authority practices, improve data reporting, and expand support for reuse and repair initiatives.

The strategy is also aligned with upcoming Simpler Recycling reforms and Extended Producer Responsibility rules, positioning Wales as a frontrunner in coordinated national policy and local delivery.

UK Waste Sector Faces Strikes, Compliance Costs and AI Disruption in June 2025

Waste operators across the UK faced growing pressures this month. Birmingham experienced major collection backlogs due to continued strike action, leaving an estimated 17,000 tonnes of waste uncollected. Elsewhere, local authorities and businesses are facing rising costs tied to Simpler Recycling compliance and EPR obligations.

At the same time, the sector is starting to adopt new technologies as a way forward. AI-powered sorting lines, robotics in material recovery facilities, and blockchain-based waste tracking are increasingly being trialled to improve efficiency and reduce manual labour burdens.

UK Textile Sector Invests in Circular Fashion and Fabric Recycling Infrastructure

The UK’s textile and fashion industry is showing early signs of real movement toward circularity. In June, new infrastructure investments were announced, focusing on post-consumer polyester recycling and automated sorting solutions capable of handling blended or contaminated fabrics.

While these developments mark genuine progress, stakeholders are calling for stronger policy incentives and greater financial support to scale circular textile solutions across the country.

In Summary

This month’s headlines highlight a sector stretched across ambition and execution. The UK's waste and recycling systems are in motion—from legislation to innovation—but cracks remain in implementation, consistency, and investment.

June 2025 reinforced a clear message: if the UK is serious about hitting circular economy targets, it must bridge the gap between aspiration and infrastructure—and do it fast.