Researchers have developed a solar-powered reactor that breaks down hard-to-recycle forms of plastic waste and converts it into hydrogen fuel and industrial chemicals.
The solar-powered reactor, developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge, could be a cheaper and more sustainable alternative to current chemical-based recycling methods.
The reactor breaks down hard-to-recycle forms of plastic waste, such as drinks bottles, nylon textiles and polyurethane foams, using acid recovered from old car batteries, and converts it into hydrogen fuel and valuable industrial chemicals.
To develop the method, the researchers engineered a photocatalyst that is robust enough to withstand the highly corrosive effects of car acid, which is normally neutralised and discarded.
“The discovery was almost accidental,” said Professor Erwin Reisner from Cambridge’s Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, who led the research.
“We used to think acid was completely off limits in these solar-powered systems, because it would simply dissolve everything. But our catalyst developed didn’t – and suddenly a whole new world of reactions opened up.”
“Acids have long been used to break plastics apart, but we never had a cheap and scalable photocatalyst that could withstand them,” said lead author Kay Kwarteng, a PhD candidate in Reisner’s research group, who developed the photocatalyst. “Once we solved that problem, the advantages of this type of system became obvious.”
The researchers say that their approach could complement conventional recycling by handling contaminated or mixed plastics that currently have no viable route to reuse.
The team of researchers plan to commercialise this process with the support of Cambridge Enterprise, the University’s innovation arm, and with a UKRI Impact Acceleration Account.
Blockchain technology has introduced a paradigm shift in the ways we think about ownership, investments and value transfer. The growing attention towards Security Token Offering (STOs) use cases creates curiosity regarding their relevance among cryptocurrencies. The difference between security tokens and utility tokens clearly establishes that security tokens represent ownership of real-world assets and financial instruments.
Security token offerings or STOs have become a regulated approach for companies that wish to raise capital. STOs not only offer tokenized securities but also blend the advantages of transparency, global reach of blockchain and speed with the safeguards of traditional finance. Understanding the use cases of security token offerings can showcase a better glimpse of their potential.
Understanding the Fundamentals of Tokenization
The term ‘tokenization’ has become one of the common mentions in majority of discussions revolving around the crypto and web3 space. Tokenization is the process of converting real-world assets into tokens in the digital space. This is where you can come across security token offering examples as security tokens represent ownership of traditional securities. What is a security? Security represents a legal or financial instrument that represents ownership rights, rights to profit or a creditor relationship.
The Howey Test in the United States is a prominent framework that establishes the definition of a security. Transactions that involve investing money, in a common enterprise with expectations of profits based on other’s efforts can be classified as securities. Security tokens work as legally recognized financial instruments, similar to equities, debts or revenue-sharing agreements. The only difference is that companies can issue and manage security tokens on blockchain through smart contracts.
The total value of real-world assets represented on-chain as of January 2026 is $362 billion (Source). It clearly showcases how tokenization has become more than just a tool for fundraising. Tokenization serves as a revolutionary technology that brings many benefits for the financial industry, such as offering access to new asset classes.
Unraveling the Top Use Cases of Security Token Offerings
Security token offerings have gained recognition for delivering a wide range of benefits to investors. You can rely on security tokens to gain access to traditionally illiquid asset classes with legal rights and safeguards. The advantages of STO or security token offerings also focus on transparent ownership records and ability to view trading history of assets. Most important of all, the diverse use cases of security tokens bridge the gap between traditional capital markets and Web3.
Tokenization of US Treasuries
The best way to showcase the potential of security tokens involves drawing the limelight towards their use in tokenization of US treasuries. As a matter of fact, one of the largest on-chain security token categories corresponds to tokenized US treasury securities. As of now, the total value of on-chain tokenized treasuries is almost $9.3 billion (Source). The tokenized US treasury securities allow access to institutional investors, through digital tokens.
At the same time, the tokens also retain the credit profile and regulatory clarity associated with the underlying asset. You can find the best example of STOs in tokenization of US treasuries in the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund or BUIDL. As of August 2025, BUIDL fund had reached a total value of almost $3 billion, which showcases significant growth in institutional interest (Source).
Tokenization of Real Estate
One of the most promising use cases of security token offerings is the tokenization of real estate. Prior to the arrival of tokenization, high-value real estate was accessible only to wealthy individuals as the traditional real estate market demanded significant capital for entry. The best addition among security token offering examples in real estate is DAMAC Properties in Dubai. Prypco Mint, which is the first licensed real estate tokenization platform, reported that it achieved complete funding for the first tokenized property within 24 hours.
The success of one STO in tokenization of real estate sets the benchmark for other projects to follow suit. Tokenization helps in breaking down the traditionally illiquid real estate assets into smaller units, thereby making them more affordable. Security tokens for real estate can be traded on blockchain networks, which enhance liquidity alongside encouraging more participation. The use cases of security token offerings in real estate can help investors worldwide get ownership rights in luxury properties.
Tokenization of Stocks
You cannot miss the fact that stocks are also a prominent asset class eligible for tokenization with security token offerings. Tokenized stocks serve as representation of ownership of publicly listed equities in a blockchain network. The search for answers to “What is an example of a security token offering?” in stocks would point towards Robinhood. In June 2025, the fintech giant launched tokenized US stocks for customers in the European Union.
The new tokenized stocks by Robinhood in collaboration with Arbitrum offered access to equities on a blockchain network. On the other hand, NASDAQ has also come up with proposals to introduce tokenized securities to make capital markets infrastructure more flexible and transparent. Tokenized stocks comply with relevant securities regulations while enhancing accessibility and ensuring faster settlement.
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Tokenization of Real Commodities
Commodities, such as gold, oil and several precious metals are valuable assets with global trading potential. Tokenization of these commodities is one of the most in-demand use cases of security token offerings. Tokenized commodities on blockchain networks can introduce enhanced security and transparency as compared to traditional commodity trading. Most important of all, the cost involved with tokenization of commodities is significantly lower than the overhead expenses in commodity exchange markets.
The tokenization of commodities can be executed with the formation of a trust to securely hold a vault of certain commodity. The vault would be under the custody of a licensed party and the trust can be tokenized. Each token will represent proportional ownership of the commodity held by the trust. Investors can either redeem their tokens for the commodity or trade them on secondary exchanges, thereby enhancing liquidity.
Tokenization of Intellectual Property
The misuse of intellectual property assets is one of the biggest concerns in creative fields, such as film and music. You can expect security token offering or STOs use cases in tokenization of intellectual property to gain momentum. STOs can help in representing ownership and licensing rights to creative intellectual properties through digital tokens on blockchain networks.
The new structure will offer more room for flexible management and distribution of intellectual property rights. It would ensure that qualified participants can only exercise ownership rights over creative works. The token structure in tokenized intellectual property assets can address the elements of governance, compliance and reporting without intermediaries.
Tokenization of Debt
The most prevalent application of security token offerings is found in the area of debt tokenization, focused on loans and bonds. Tokenization of debts ensures that investors can get fractional ownership, thereby allowing borrowers to raise capital through a new way. In addition, investors will find a new asset class for exposure.
You can find an example of tokenized debts in the first tokenized bond launched by the DBS Bank in 2021. The tokenized bond empowered investors to enter with a minimum investment of $10,000, which made it more accessible than traditional bond issuances. The growing interest in tokenized debt issuances among corporations has been noticed in Asian and European markets as well.
Tokenization of Alterative Assets
Security token offerings or STOs have also emerged as valuable tools for revolutionizing the trading of alternative assets. The group of alternative assets eligible for tokenization can include hedge funds, private equity and venture capital funds. Security tokens make these traditionally inaccessible assets available to everyone through fractional ownership.
Tokenized alternative assets provide new solutions for portfolio diversification. Investors can gain exposure to a diversified collection of assets, based on their potential to offer hefty returns. As a result, more investors can find the opportunity to capitalize on high-potential alternative assets.
Final Thoughts
The use cases of security token offerings or STOs reveal how they can bridge the gap between web3 and the real world. As a matter of fact, security tokens can bring the world a lot closer to the domain of web3 and blockchain. The primary benefits noticed in all security token offering examples revolve around enhanced accessibility, security and transparency. Traditional capital market infrastructures can witness significant improvements in liquidity while empowering broader participation from different groups of investors. Learn more about security token offerings and their value right now.
*Disclaimer: The article should not be taken as, and is not intended to provide any investment advice. Claims made in this article do not constitute investment advice and should not be taken as such. 101 Blockchains shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this article. Do your own research!
An estimated 3.5 million people in the UK throw hot cross buns away each year, new research from Too Good To Go shows.
1 in 12 hot cross buns are thrown away every year after Easter celebrations have ended, according to a survey of 2000 UK adults.
The average household buys around six hot cross buns in the lead-up to Easter and over half of Brits (54%) admit they end up with leftovers.
The food redistribution marketplace Too Good To Go found almost 40% of hot cross buns go stale before they’re eaten, while 18% are throw away because people simply bought too many, and 24% miss their best-before date.
Too Good To Go has also partnered with businesses, including Greggs, Costa Coffee, and GAIL’s, to redistribute seasonal items through its Surprise Bags initiative.
Chelsea Kerr, UK & Ireland Managing Director at Too Good To Go, commented: “Hot cross buns are an Easter favourite, but with more than half of Brits admitting they end up with leftovers, it’s clear we need to rethink how we enjoy these seasonal treats.”
Reconomy has announced it is set to open a new £20 million closed-loop plastic recycling facility in Corby later this year.
International circular economy specialist Reconomy’s brand, Eurokey, will open the site, which it says will be one of the UK’s largest dedicated plastic recycling facilities.
The plant will receive several grades of plastic material from supermarkets, retailers and grocers and recycle it into plastic pellets ready for manufacture into plastic packaging.
The construction phase for the facility is almost complete, and it is expected to become fully operational in the second half of 2026.
At full capacity, Reconomy says the site will be able to recycle 38,000 tonnes of plastic material annually and will also create over 30 new jobs.
Commenting on the announcement, Mike Benton, Recycle Loop Managing Director of Reconomy, said: “This facility will play a major role in increasing domestic recycling capacity and reducing reliance on virgin plastic by keeping high-quality material in circulation. It will also benefit the local economy.”
51% of plastic packaging is currently recycled in the UK, with the country still heavily reliant on exporting plastic material due to the lack of domestic infrastructure.
What made you pick this program and how will you describe your learning experience with 101 Blockchains?
I have been developing my expertise in different AI tools since 2022 through self-learning. I believed that I must have a certification that will add more credibility to my profile and my AI startup. Almost every AI course I came across appeared to be focused too much on marketing and gimmicks without true learning. However, the Certified AI Professional certification by 101 Blockchains was different as it offered comprehensive professional training on relevant technical aspects of AI.
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Which learning outcomes from the program helped you the most?
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Did the program help you with professional growth?
Yes, the certification program provided a strong boost for my professional growth. I could now try out more professional courses on AI and blockchain technology to boost my credibility as AI expert.
What will you recommend to someone who wants a career in AI?
I recommend that every beginner pursuing a career in AI should take credible training and certification courses like the ones offered by 101 Blockchains. You will need the relevant skills and knowledge from professional learning resources to build a successful career in AI.
Simpler Recycling rules that mandate the separate collection of different waste streams have come into force for households across England.
Local authorities in England are now required to collect several different types of waste separately from households, including:
food and garden waste.
paper and card.
all other dry recyclable materials (glass, metal and plastic, including cartons).
residual waste (non-recyclable waste that is sent for energy recovery or to landfill).
However, not every household in England will receive separate food waste collections as over a quarter of councils have missed the 31 March deadline.
As first reported by the BBC, 79 councils across England said they would not meet the deadline. The government has agreed transitional arrangements with some local authorities, allowing them to implement food waste collections later in the year.
Councils have received £78 million from the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) this year as part of funding to roll out weekly food waste collections.
As part Simpler Recycling, which the government calls ‘integral’ to a circular economy, households will have a maximum of four waste collections, with paper and card allowed to be collected alongside other dry recyclable materials in certain circumstances.
Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh commented: “We are ending the bin collections postcode lottery and making it easier for people to recycle wherever they live.”
“Simplifying these rules will cut out carbon, clean up our streets, and help bring pride back into our communities.”
“We will continue to work hand-in-hand with local areas to deliver these changes and ensure there’s more recycled content in the products we buy.”
In January, Defra pushed back against ‘completely false’ media reports that households could face £400 fines for recycling 37 ‘prohibited’ items as part of Simpler Recycling reforms.
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has partnered with Defra to support the implementation of Simpler Recycling in England through the newly established Change Network, which is hosted on Circular Online.
The Scottish Government has published a draft strategy outlining plans to transition the country towards a circular economy, as part of wider efforts to tackle climate change and reduce environmental impact.
The strategy, published for consultation, sets out a long-term vision for Scotland to become a “net zero and nature positive nation” by 2045, supported by a significant shift away from a traditional “take, make and dispose” economic model.
Move away from linear economy
At the core of the strategy is a commitment to keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible, reducing reliance on virgin resources and minimising waste.
The Scottish Government argues that current patterns of production and consumption are a major driver of environmental harm, with the majority of Scotland’s carbon footprint linked to goods and services that are manufactured, used and discarded.
The circular economy model aims to address this by promoting reuse, repair and recycling, while supporting more sustainable consumption patterns.
Legislative framework and targets
The strategy has been developed under the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024, which requires ministers to publish a circular economy strategy and set targets to measure progress.
Under the Act, the strategy will be updated at least every five years, with a monitoring framework and indicators intended to track progress and inform future targets from 2027 onwards.
Key policy areas
The draft strategy identifies a range of policy mechanisms intended to drive systemic change across the economy. These include:
business support and innovation
behaviour change initiatives
public procurement reforms
skills and education development
improved data and monitoring systems
place-based approaches to implementation
Ministers say action across multiple policy areas will be required to reshape how goods are produced, used and disposed of.
Sector focus and economic impact
The strategy highlights priority sectors where circular approaches could deliver the greatest impact, including construction, energy infrastructure, textiles and food.
Measures under consideration include increasing reuse of construction materials, promoting repair and reuse models, and reducing food waste.
The Scottish Government says the transition could support economic growth by improving resource efficiency, reducing costs and creating new business opportunities, while also contributing to environmental goals.
Social considerations
The strategy also considers potential impacts on households and communities, including those on low incomes and in rural areas.
It notes that changes in pricing and access to goods may arise as circular economy measures are introduced, and that these impacts will need to be assessed as policies are developed.
Consultation and next steps
The draft strategy was published for consultation, with responses invited from businesses, public bodies and communities. The consultation closed in January 2026, with a final strategy expected to be published later in the year.
Overall, the strategy sets out a framework for transforming Scotland’s economy over the coming decades, with a focus on reducing waste, improving resource use and aligning economic activity with environmental limits.
News updates written by CIWM’s commercial partners.
CRJ Services
New Partnership Announcement: Exclusive UK and Ireland Dealership Secured with Tana
Valpak
UCL wins ‘Beyond the Bin’ funding bid with proposal for first behavioural systems map focused on cup recycling
EPIC Media
As Simpler Recycling Goes Live, Clear Street-Level Communication Is Now Critical
Beyondly
Compliance and the importance of following regulation change
Wood Recyclers’ Association
Michael Symons appointed as Service Member Lead on the WRA Board
Advetec
Go4Greener switches on XO22 and becomes first to turn nappies into fuel with biotechnology
Nuclear Waste Services
The sustainable management of radioactive waste
Alfred H Knight
How Local Authorities Can Save Costs Through Waste Profiling Ahead of New Regulations
Washed Aggregates Trade Association
Trade Body urgently calls on Government to step in with aid measures to help recycling sector with fuel
Vision Techniques
Vision Techniques launch new product in response to the increasing number of bin lift incidents
Greyparrot
Global waste leaders share AI’s role in protecting MRF profitability and compliance in 2026
Dennis Eagle
Dennis Eagle Blackpool wins Digital Award at the Red Rose Awards 2026
Plan B
Plan B Awards for Excellence Shortlisting
CRJ Services | New Partnership Announcement: Exclusive UK and Ireland Dealership Secured with Tana
Left to right: Olli Heinonen, Vice president, Sales and Marketing, Tana Oy Jari Mannalla, CEO, Tana Oy, and Andrew Clarkson, Managing Director, CRJ Services.
Our exclusive partnership with TANA strengthens our product and service offering, giving you access to market-leading waste processing equipment backed by CRJ’s full lifecycle support.
CRJ is pleased to be announced as the exclusive dealer for the full range of TANA recycling machinery for the UK and Ireland. Further expanding their ability to deliver tailored shredding solutions across a wide range of waste and recycling applications.
TANA is internationally recognised for designing and manufacturing robust, intelligent machinery and digital solutions such as TanaConnect(R) for waste management operations. Its product range includes shredders, landfill compactors and screening solutions, developed to maximise efficiency, improve material recovery and optimise waste processing across a wide variety of applications.
TANA Shark, Single Shaft Shredder.
“We are pleased to partner with CRJ who have built a strong reputation in the waste and recycling sector through their technical expertise and extensive service capabilities. We look forward to working together to bringing Tana’s intelligent waste processing solutions to more operators across the region,” Jari Mannala, CEO, Tana Oy, says.
A key addition to CRJ’s offering is the TANA Shark and TANA Hammerhead, both single-shaft shredders, designed to produce a finer output size, making them particularly well suited to applications where material specification requirements are critical.
This new addition complements CRJ Services’ established range of HAAS Tyron twinshaft slow speed shredders, enabling the business to support a broader variety of waste streams and processing objectives.
The TANA range of single-shaft shredders is ideally suited to waste streams that require finer size reduction and greater control over output, including refuse-derived fuel (RDF), solid recovered fuel (SRF), municipal solid waste (MSW), tyres, wood waste, pallets, production waste, plastics, textiles, and pre-processed mixed waste.
This makes the TANA Shark and TANA Hammerhead particularly effective as secondary shredders, or in applications where consistent particle size is essential for fuel production, sorting, or further separation.
“In many waste processing applications, achieving the right particle size is critical,” adds Rob Symons, CRJ Director. “The TANA Shark and TANA Hammerhead are designed to give operators greater control over output while maintaining the durability and reliability required for demanding waste streams.”
By offering both single-shaft and twin-shaft slow speed shredders, CRJ can now design complete shredding solutions that match the input material and the end goal.
“This dealership strengthens our slow speed shredder offering,” says Andrew Clarkson, CRJ Managing Director. “HAAS and TANA work alongside each other, allowing us to support a much wider range of specified waste output and offer more complete, future-ready processing solutions.”
In addition to shredders, Tana also manufactures a range of landfill compactors and a disc screen, further strengthening CRJ’s ability to support customers with integrated waste processing solutions. These technologies allow for efficient material handling, screening, and volume reduction, helping customers optimise their processing lines and maximise throughput across multiple waste streams.
The addition of TANA to the CRJ portfolio reinforces the company’s position as a solution-led partner to the waste and recycling industry, providing expert guidance, proven machinery, and comprehensive aftersales support across an expanding range of applications.
Valpak | UCL wins ‘Beyond the Bin’ funding bid with proposal for first behavioural systems map focused on cup recycling
The National Cup Recycling Scheme has announced the winner of its ‘Beyond the Bin’ project fund competition.
The Centre for Behaviour Change, based at University College London (UCL), will receive over £44,000 to fund research into the barriers to recycling paper cups in mainstream systems and produce the first behavioural systems map focused specifically on cup recycling.
Hannah Osman, Manager of the National Cup Recycling Scheme, congratulated Dr Lucy Porter and Dr Ayşe Lisa Allison at UCL, saying: “The range and scope of applications show the appetite for developing new systems and approaches to cup recycling.”
“It was a particularly close call between the top four finalists, but UCL’s bid is a worthy winner. The findings can directly inform future infrastructure design, communication strategies, and the goals of the project – to use systems mapping to identify the key behaviours, barriers and enablers in paper cup recycling, to guide future interventions and policy – closely align with our ambitions to prevent cups from ending up in landfill.”
Matt Spencer, Commercial Director and Group Head of Sustainability for Caffe Nero, said: “Tackling the barriers to cup recycling is something we are very proud to support. For many years we have segregated cups for recycling in store, helped fund the Valpak scheme and incentivised our customers to use reusable cups. We know to further improving recycling rates isn’t just about infrastructure, it’s about understanding behaviour across the whole system. We hope that UCL’s work will provide valuable insight to help retailers, policymakers and waste partners design solutions that make recycling easier, clearer and more effective for customers.”
UCL’s project will run for eight months. Key elements include:
Developing a behavioural systems map showing how actions, barriers, and enablers interact across the cup recycling system.
Consulting stakeholders across retail, waste, manufacturing, and policy sectors.
Analysing data using system effects software and the COM-B behaviour model.
Conducting a rapid literature review to integrate academic and stakeholder insights.
Producing a detailed case study of an existing intervention, in collaboration with the National Cup Recycling Scheme/Valpak).
Delivering recommendations.
The project will be led by UCL’s world-renowned Centre for Behaviour Change, which provides tried and tested behavioural science expertise. It will capture the complexity of cup recycling across multiple sectors and will include consultation across public, private, and academic partners.
The Beyond the Bin submissions covered research and evidence building, recycling and infrastructure improvements, and awareness campaigns. RECOUP, Recorra and Immersive Industry Experiences were close runners-up.
RECOUP proposed research into the barriers to recycling paper cups in mainstream systems, resulting in the technical, operational and design guidance to integrate paper cups into national recycling systems. Recorra’s infrastructure project planned to introduce a dual reuse and recycling cup system across the Broadgate Estate in the City of London. Finally Immersive Industry Experiences offered a creative awareness campaign that uses live-action immersive storytelling inspiring young people by combining education, technology, and art to shift behaviours and increase cup recycling in public spaces.
The National Cup Recycling Scheme is administered by Valpak by Reconomy. It is the UK’s largest paper cup recycling scheme. Funded by participating brands – Costa Coffee, McDonald’s, Pret a Manger, Caffè Nero, Lavazza Professional, Greggs and Burger King – it brings major retailers, waste management companies and UK paper mills together to increase the number of paper cups collected and recycled in the UK.
Since the launch of the scheme, 227 million cups have been recycled into high quality products such as packaging, stationery and even Remembrance Day poppies.
EPIC Media | As Simpler Recycling Goes Live, Clear Street-Level Communication Is Now Critical
With Simpler Recycling reforms now coming into effect across England, vehicle graphics specialist EPIC Media is urging local authorities and waste operators to prioritise visible, consistent public messaging as food waste collections expand.
The reforms, led by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, introduce greater consistency in recycling collections, including mandatory weekly food waste services for most households.
While operational preparations have been underway for some time, recent national reporting from BBC News highlighted that almost one in four councils were not on track to introduce weekly food waste collections by the original deadline, with more than 70 authorities expected to roll out services later in 2026.
For EPIC Media, the conversation must now move beyond policy to public behaviour. Service change on this scale is not just operational, it is behavioural. Residents need clarity.
When collection rules vary or messaging is unclear, contamination increases and participation drops. As services evolve, communication has to evolve with them.
Nicola (Nic) Welfare, General Manager at EPIC Media says, “Waste collection vehicles are among the most visible assets local authorities operate, travelling through every neighbourhood on a weekly basis.”
“EPIC Media has already worked with councils and operators across the UK to support first time food waste rollouts, recycling rebrands and service changes through high impact vehicle wraps and adaptable messaging systems.”
Rather than viewing fleet graphics purely as branding, EPIC positions them as an ongoing communications platform. Rapid wrap solutions and changeable graphic systems allow authorities to update messaging in line with phased rollouts, policy adjustments and resident education campaigns.
“With Simpler Recycling, the pressure on councils is very real,” Nic continues. “Clear street level communication can reinforce new food waste services, explain what goes where and build public confidence during a period of change.”
As authorities review fleet procurement, depot capacity and container distribution, EPIC Media is encouraging waste teams and communications departments to align operational planning with visible, consistent messaging.
Beyondly | Compliance and the importance of following regulation change
Global e-commerce is on the rise. In 2025, 5.8bn (that’s billion!) items entered the EU.
Testing of goods coming into the EU (5,772 cosmetics, 2,092 PPE, 3,474 food supplements) found that the majority did not comply with EU rules and product standards. A similar finding from the EU’s Safety Gate rapid alert system for dangerous non-food goods found that cosmetics and toys accounted for over half of reported unsafe products.
The interesting thing is that the countries listed as making up the majority of non-compliant products are the US, China, and the UK. It is therefore more important than ever to know that the goods you are supplying into our largest export partner are compliant.
Despite some post-Brexit divergence, it is worth noting that we are seeing increased alignment with the EU on topics such as Packaging, Batteries, Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) rules, and Carbon Trading; therefore, getting ahead of potential future regulatory changes keeps you on the front foot.
EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations (PPWR)
Due to application in Northern Ireland, the UK Government is currently hosting a series of workshops with industry on adopting the EU Batteries Regulations across the whole of the UK.
Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS)
To reduce costs for importing and exporting with the EU, it was confirmed, on 9 March 2026, that the UK will align with EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) legislation.
This is a slight divergence since Brexit has led to increased checks for food and feed, etc., between the UK and the EU. It has also led to friction between Britain and Northern Ireland.
On 1 January 2026, the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) came into force, charging a CO2 emissions fees on certain imported goods such as cement, iron, aluminium, and fertilisers.
While the UK was hoping for temporary exemption from this levy while negotiations were underway for alignment, the EU announced before Christmas that Britain, nor any other country, would be exempt. The UK Government has said that this could cost industry around £800m per year.
With the UK’s own CBAM in final stages of consultation and due to come into force from 1 January 2027, although yet to be confirmed, we can hope that alignment and linkage of carbon markets will lead to mutual CBAM exemption on both sides of the Channel, removing a trade barrier for our largest, and closest, trading partner.
Wood Recyclers’ Association | Michael Symons appointed as Service Member Lead on the WRA Board
The Wood Recyclers’ Association (WRA) has announced the appointment of Michael Symons as the new Service Member Lead on its Board.
Michael is Head of Sales at CRJ Services and his appointment was finalised at the WRA’s Annual General Meeting which took place in Greater Manchester yesterday (March 11).
Michael Symons.
Michael has more than 10 years of experience in the waste and recycling sector and has worked with CRJ Services since 2016. Having grown up in the recycling industry, he has a strong practical understanding of both machinery and the operational demands of the sector.
At CRJ Services, Michael leads the company’s national sales strategy. He has been instrumental in strengthening CRJ’s supplier and customer networks across the wood recycling, biomass and wider waste industry in both the UK and Ireland.
Through this work, Michael has built extensive industry relationships and developed a deep understanding of the operational, commercial and regulatory factors involved in processing waste wood and other recyclable materials.
Michael joins the WRA’s eight other Board Members, including seven elected members and the Executive Director, Julia Turner. Michael replaces Spencer Caldwell, who stepped down after two years in December after moving into a different sector.
Michael said: “I’m delighted to join the WRA Board as Service Member Lead. The wood recycling industry is evolving rapidly, and I’m looking forward to using my experience to support members, champion best practice and contribute to the sector’s continued growth.”
Mark Hayton, Chair of the WRA, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Michael to the Board as our new Service Member Lead.
“Michael brings extensive technical and commercial experience from across the waste and recycling sector, along with a deep understanding of the machinery and operational challenges our members face every day. His insight and strong industry relationships will be a valuable asset to the WRA as we continue to support a safe, innovative and forward‑looking wood recycling sector.”
He added: “A big thank you to Spencer for all the time and energy he devoted to the WRA over the past two years.”
Advetec | Go4Greener switches on XO22 and becomes first to turn nappies into fuel with biotechnology
Derby-based Go4Greener is breaking new ground in sustainable waste management – becoming the first UK waste handler to transform offensive washroom waste – including nappies and sanitary products – into high-quality fuel with biotechnology.
This UK first uses Advetec’s XO22 biotechnology machine to turn offensive washroom waste once destined for landfill into valuable fuel at speed and scale.
Go4Greener took delivery of the Advetec XO22 in September, and after several weeks of testing has now processed its first load of waste.
The XO22 will convert the 4,000 tonnes of washroom waste Go4Greener handles each year into nearly 2,000 tonnes of high-quality alternative fuel, replacing fossil fuels in energy-intensive industries.
Go4Greener’s £1.25m investment in the XO22 is part of a wider commitment to recycle and dispose of waste in the most sustainable ways possible. The technology will help Go4Greener reduce its carbon footprint, stabilise costs, and move closer to sending zero waste to landfill – in turn benefiting hundreds of commercial customers across the hospitality, retail, commercial, and education sectors.
Samantha Turton, managing director of Go4Greener, said: “Switching on the XO22 is a huge milestone – not just for Go4Greener, but for the entire waste industry. We’re proud to be leading the way in turning one of the hardest waste streams into fuel and reducing waste to landfill in the process. This is groundbreaking technology that brings real environmental benefits for our customers and the industry.”
Lee Knott, Advetec’s chief executive officer, said: “Faced with rising costs, labour shortages, taxes and a lack of infrastructure, the sector is crying out for a practical, scalable solution for washroom waste. Go4Greener’s adoption of the XO22 proves that biotechnology is not just the future – it’s here now. This is a turning point for waste management in the UK, helping waste handlers safeguard their costs and customers.”
Advetec’s XO22 uses naturally occurring biological processes, accelerated with biostimulants, to effectively clean non-recyclable and hard-to-handle waste streams. Through an aerobic rapid digestion process, bacteria break down contaminants, leaving only non-organic matter, which can be further treated and converted into alternative fuel.
This biological innovation replaces the need for chemical or thermal treatment, offering a gentler, more natural yet highly effective solution to one of the industry’s toughest waste challenges.
The process is completed in just 48-72 hours, compared to the traditional 16-week timeframe for aerobic composting. The process also significantly reduces waste mass and volume, thereby cutting costs and lowering associated environmental impact.
Nuclear Waste Services | The sustainable management of radioactive waste
A drum ready to be disposed of at the Low Level Waste Repository.
Bringing together the UK’s expertise in radioactive waste management – reducing and recycling waste to save costs while protecting people and the environment
The UK has benefited from nuclear technologies for decades. Powering homes, supporting industry and enabling life‑saving medical and research applications. With those benefits comes a responsibility that Parliament rightly scrutinises: radioactive waste must be managed safely and securely, and in a way that represents value for the public purse over the long term.
That is the core purpose of Nuclear Waste Services (NWS). Created to bring together the UK’s leading radioactive waste management capabilities into a single organisation, NWS supports the safe treatment, transport and disposal of radioactive waste and helps ensure the UK has a credible, permanent “end point” for the most hazardous materials.
NWS – providing solutions
NWS specialises in the management, treatment and disposal of radioactive waste produced by nuclear technologies in the UK. We are part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group, the public body responsible for cleaning up the UK’s historical nuclear sites.
Our goal is simple: to ensure all categories of the UK’s radioactive waste are managed safely, securely and sustainably.
We provide practical waste solutions – assessing, packaging, transporting and managing radioactive waste using innovative approaches that prioritise sustainable outcomes.
Our solutions include disposal through operating the existing Low Level Waste Repository in Cumbria to planning for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) for the most hazardous radioactive waste.
Since the mid-1980s we have worked with organisations across the UK that produce radioactive waste to help ensure that the waste being produced now is suitable for geological disposal.
A drum ready to be disposed of at the Low Level Waste Repository
From design to disposal
With new nuclear recognised by Government as essential to the UK’s low-carbon energy mix and energy security, the ability to manage radioactive waste safely – today and for future generations – has never been more important.
It is vital that new build reactor design consider decommissioning from the very outset. An assessment process has been put in place to scrutinise new nuclear power plant designs and assess their acceptability for use in Great Britain.
NWS – with a remit extending well beyond managing legacy waste – is playing a pivotal role ensuring that during plant design, construction and beyond, developers have clear and credible plans for the safe and permanent disposal of the waste their facilities will produce. In addition to receiving the most hazardous legacy waste, the GDF will accept waste arising from new plants, so at NWS we must ensure it is compatible with final disposal in the facility.
Supercompacted waste destined for disposal
Diverting waste from disposal
Our role spans the full waste lifecycle. We assess waste, advise on the most sustainable management route, and apply innovative treatments to reduce its volume or radioactivity wherever possible. Our partnership with the Chartered Institute of Waste Management increases trust and credibility of the solutions we provide.
Around 15 years ago, the default approach for low level waste was disposal at the Repository on the West Cumbrian coast. Waste was placed in expensive steel containers and permanently disposed of.
If that approach had continued, the UK would have needed a new low level waste repository at significant cost.
Instead, the NDA introduced a new strategy based on the waste hierarchy: avoid, reduce, reuse, recycle and only dispose as a last resort, delivered by a new centralised waste services capability. This work has been making significant savings to the taxpayer, made great efficiencies in our waste disposal management, avoided the unnecessary use of higher‑cost disposal facilities and helped speed up decommissioning.
A step change in how waste is managed across the nuclear sector now exists. Over the past decade, we have increasingly adopted alternative treatment routes such as incineration, permitted landfill for lower-activity waste, super-compaction, and metal decontamination for recycling.
These approaches deliver both environmental and economic benefits. Diversion is typically more cost-effective than disposal, and techniques such as surface treatment allow contaminated metals to be cleaned and safely reused. In practice, that means expanding the range of treatment routes used across the UK, so that suitable waste can be diverted away from disposal. By re-using or recycling where possible, we now divert 98% of waste away from disposal at the Repository site. In the past year alone, this approach has saved nearly £60 million and more than £900 million in the past decade; money that can be redirected to hazard reduction and decommissioning priorities. Waste management is a lever that can accelerate clean-up and reduce long-term liabilities. When we avoid unnecessary disposal, we protect constrained national capacity, improve efficiency across the system and help ensure public money is spent once and spent well.
Going further
Building on our success in diverting lower activity waste from disposal, we are now exploring whether similar principles can be applied to some wastes currently in storage and destined for deep geological disposal in a GDF.
Through research and trials, we are examining whether innovative treatment methods could reduce the volume of certain lower activity wastes that would otherwise require disposal underground. These trials will inform decisions on the most sustainable techniques to apply in the future.
This work does not remove the need for a GDF. A GDF remains the safe, secure and long-term solution for the UK’s most hazardous radioactive waste. However, by reducing volumes where it is safe and appropriate to do so, we can maximise value and support delivery of the NDA mission.
Our work accelerates decommissioning while ensuring waste is managed in the most sustainable and cost-effective way possible.
Through collaboration with customers and the supply chain, and with a clear focus on innovation and delivery, we are making nuclear waste permanently safe, sooner.
Alfred H Knight | How Local Authorities Can Save Costs Through Waste Profiling Ahead of New Regulations
Local authorities are being asked to do more than ever – deliver higher recycling rates, navigate an evolving policy landscape and do so under increasing financial pressure. The question is no longer whether change is coming, but how we can confidently and effectively respond to it.
That’s why Alfred H Knight, in collaboration with CIWM, is hosting a focused one-day in-person workshop designed specifically for local authorities facing these challenges.
The big question is: do you truly know what’s in your waste?
With the introduction of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), Simpler Recycling, EPR, and the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) Code of Practice, understanding your waste streams is no longer optional; it’s essential.
Rather than theory alone, you’ll experience a live demonstration, revealing exactly what is present in a typical residual waste stream. Then, using real data generated from past work with a council, we’ll walk you through how a waste profile is built, turning raw materials into meaningful, supportive data.
During the workshop, we will explore:
How waste composition data can transform operations – improving recycling performance while reducing avoidable costs.
The regulatory landscape facing local authorities, including Simpler Recycling, the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), EPR, DRS and the MRF Code of Practice.
The financial implications of new policy requirements and how councils can prepare and budget strategically.
A live demonstration of a waste composition analysis, showing what goes into your waste, how it’s sorted and how the data is captured, and then translated into practical insights.
A real-time case study showing how waste profiling and reporting can support operational planning, compliance and cost savings.
If you’re experiencing these challenges within your organisation, this is a workshop you don’t want to miss. Book your space now via the link here, and we’ll see you there!
Washed Aggregates Trade Association | Trade Body urgently calls on Government to step in with aid measures to help recycling sector with fuel
WATA, the Washed Aggregates Trade Association, is calling on the Government to protect the waste and recycling sector from escalating fuel costs and a potential fuel shortage as a matter of urgency.
The trade body, which represents washing plants that clean and recycle high grade aggregates for the construction and remediation industries, says the war in Iran is already putting business in its sector and the wider waste and recycling arena under threat.
It’s calling on the Government to look urgently at:
Cutting taxes on fuel duty
Suspending the forthcoming fuel duty rise for business in the waste and recycling industry
Allowing the temporary use of red diesel for businesses in the sector operating machinery, including washed aggregate plants
In the event of any supply issues, making sure the waste and recycling sector is prioritised for fuel as it was during the Covid Pandemic.
Andy Hill, CEO of WATA.
Andy Hill, CEO of WATA, said: “We need to look ahead and be prepared. We are already seeing a huge increase in fuel costs and I’m being told waste and recycling sites in some areas are having to put security on their sites to protect their fuel supply.”
“This isn’t about scaremongering or causing undue alarm. It’s about recognising the key role that the waste and recycling sector plays in the day-to-day functioning of the UK.”
“Without this sector running smoothly we risk stockpiles of waste building up, energy supply being affected and in the case of our own members, the supply of aggregates to key markets such as construction being placed at risk.”
Andy, who works in the energy from waste (EfW) sector as well as washed aggregates, said EfW plants account for between 3% and 3.2% of the UK’s energy production, enough to power three million homes.
The recycled aggregates sector washes and recycles an estimated 20.5 million tonnes of construction, demolition and excavation waste (CDEW) annually, producing:
Circa 8-9 million tonnes each of cleaned and sized sand, and 2-4 million tonnes fine mineral material
>95% of washed waste soils does not go to landfill
>80% by weight of waste soils is washed and reused
WATA members generate carbon savings of more than 23,000 tonnes a year, a figure which is growing.
Andy added: “In these two parts of the waste and recycling sector alone you can see the importance it plays in the UK’s ability to function and to its carbon savings. This is something the Government must address urgently before it becomes a major issue.”
Vision Techniques | Vision Techniques launch new product in response to the increasing number of bin lift incidents
Commercial vehicle safety and security specialists, Vision Techniques, are launching a new product designed in direct response to the increasing number of bin lift incidents.
The LoadSafe system prevents loaders from being injured when operating rear bin lifters by actively monitoring the working area using AI-based pedestrian detection.
An intelligent camera continuously detects the presence of people within configurable safety zones around the bin lifter. The detection zones can be precisely refined to ensure accurate monitoring, minimising false lift inhibitions and avoiding unnecessary disruption to workflow.
When a person is detected and the lift is inhibited, a flashing amber light indicates that the system is active.
The system ensures that bin lifters cannot operate while a pedestrian is present in the detection zone, significantly reducing the risk of injury, while optimising worker efficiency.
As well as the safety benefits included, the system also comes with data logging for lifter activity and detection events via Vision Techniques telematics platform, VT Connect.
Mikaeel Koornhof, Technical Specialist at Vision Techniques, shares what inspired the innovation.
He said: “LoadSafe has been developed in direct response to the increasing number of bin lift incidents seen across the industry in recent years, including those in Coventry, Scottish Borders and the Isle of Wight.
“By using advanced AI pedestrian detection, the system delivers a far more refined and accurate safety zone, significantly reducing false lift inhibitions while maintaining maximum protection for operators.
“This ensures safety improvements do not come at the cost of efficiency, supporting both worker wellbeing and operational productivity.”
Vision Techniques are the innovative driving force in vehicle safety and security systems, protecting not only vehicles but also the lives of employees, the public and the environments they operate in.
Chosen by some of the largest fleets in the UK, Vision Techniques’ products are influencing and changing safety and security standards across industries daily.
Greyparrot | Global waste leaders share AI’s role in protecting MRF profitability and compliance in 2026
A global panel of waste sector leaders joined Greyparrot’s recent webinar to explain how AI waste analytics is helping them protect profits, adapt to regulatory change, and attract a new generation of talent.
The webinar gathered facility operators and technical leaders from USA Waste & Recycling, GreenTech and KSI Recycling, with each sharing their AI strategies for 2026.
Despite differences in local regulation and material streams, the panellists shared similar priorities for 2026: adapting to changing infeed material, maximising sorting efficiency, and meeting evolving compliance requirements.
Data-driven consistency is critical to profitability
When asked about the challenges facing MRFs in 2026, speakers agreed that inconsistent infeed material continues to put pressure on margins. Whether in the USA, EU or UK, efficient sorting remains a facility’s most valuable profit lever.
“From a financial perspective, even a 1 to 2 percent decrease in capture rate or purity can make a meaningful margin impact”, said Brian Popovich, Senior Financial Analyst at USA Waste & Recycling. “We can measure it much better now, but preventing [purity dips] upstream is still one of the biggest challenges we face every day.”
Facilities are turning to AI in response, using data-driven material blending to balance fluctuating infeed composition. That data-led approach is helping operators reach their purity targets while monitoring supplier material quality and getting more from existing infrastructure and staff.
“It’s like having a thousand eyes on your material”, said GreenTech CTO Alan Smith. “There’s no other technology that gives us this level of accuracy – we shape our recipes using the information we get live.”
AI is supporting compliance as regulation evolves
Waste policy varies by region, but speakers from the EU and UK in particular agreed that AI has a growing role to play in helping facilities meet reporting and quality requirements.
Greyparrot has previously shared that they are working to help facilities automate UK Regulations reporting, and European operators are following suit.
“Every month, we report on material quality to our local government”, shared
Foppe-Jan de Meer, Plant Manager at KSI Recycling. “By the end of this year, I expect to have automated reporting up and running.”
At GreenTech, automated reporting is already a reality. Smith and his team use Greyparrot Analyzer data to prove that food-grade material meets European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) standards, arguing that AI provides a more detailed and accurate measure of product purity.
Regulators soon agreed: “We did have to show the technology to regulators and explain what it does, but once that was understood, they accepted the systems’ data”.
Technology is attracting new talent
Although the speakers have made AI waste analysis a pillar of their 2026 strategy, they stressed that technology is most effective when paired with skilled staff that can act on AI insights. Each acknowledged initial skepticism amongst their teams, and found that a period of hands-on validation actually fostered trust in AI recognition, and an enthusiasm for adoption.
Enthusiasm isn’t limited to internal teams. Some have found that AI is helping to address the waste sector’s longstanding labour shortages by attracting a new generation of leaders.
“What we’ve seen across the board is people interested in working for companies investing in this modern technology”, said Popovich. We’ve been able to use Greyparrot and other advancements as a recruitment tool.”
Adaptability will define success in 2026
The panel concluded that adaptability will be the mark of a successful facility in 2026, and in the years to come. For each speaker, the ability to prepare for – and react to – changing material streams, market conditions and regulatory demands is fundamental to MRF profitability.
None of the leaders are waiting for the recycling landscape to become more complex:
“Over the next five years, the sites that stay ahead will be the ones built to adjust quickly”, said Popovich. “That means investing in new technology now, training people to use and understand data, and designing operations that can absorb change, rather than be disrupted by it.”
Dennis Eagle | Dennis Eagle Blackpool wins Digital Award at the Red Rose Awards 2026
Dennis Eagle’s Blackpool facility has been named winner of the Digital Award at the Red Rose Awards 2026, recognising its industry leading approach to digital innovation and transformation within UK manufacturing.
Presented at a black-tie ceremony held at the Winter Gardens Blackpool, the award celebrates Dennis Eagle Blackpool’s transformation of its production and warehouse operations through a bespoke, digital system – designed and developed in-house – to improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability at its Lancashire facility.
Dennis Eagle is a world leader in the design and manufacture of refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) with its Blackpool site manufacturing RCV cabs for local authorities and private waste contractors across the UK and overseas, producing more than 1,400 hand-built units annually. Facing increasing production volumes and operational complexity, the business identified the need to move away from disconnected, paper based processes towards a fully integrated digital approach to connect people, systems, and performance.
Its digital transformation centred on a major redesign of its Finishing Department to improve workflow, stock organisation, and efficiency, while futureproofing the facilities for increased production. It introduced a digital inventory management system, fully synchronising physical and digital environments for faster, more accurate material picking that has improved production efficiency.
Alongside the introduction of digital dashboards, telematics, and automated reporting, wearable monitoring technology has enhanced the wellbeing of the team. The wearables track movement patterns, environmental factors, and fatigue, helping reduce risk and fostering a more supportive environment for employees, empowering them with better tools and insights.
The new digital infrastructure has reduced Takt time, improved stock accuracy, and created a safer and more efficient working environment. Paper use has been cut by approximately 180,000 sheets per year, delivering environmental, cost, and operational benefits.
“Digital thinking at Dennis Eagle Blackpool is now a mindset embedded into how we plan, innovate, and invest for the future,” said Oli Minett, General Manager, Dennis Eagle Blackpool.
“Dennis Eagle’s history spans over 130 years and we want the business to remain an agile industry leader as technology evolves. We’re thrilled that our investment in this area has been recognised by the Red Rose Awards. Our success to date has positioned our digital system for rollout across other Dennis Eagle sites, demonstrating our commitment to continuous improvement and a connected, future-ready business.”
Plan B | Plan B Awards for Excellence Shortlisting
Plan B Management Solutions (Plan B) is delighted to share that we have been shortlisted in all three categories we entered at this year’s Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management.
Our shortlisted entries are:
Reuse Initiative of the Year – Creating circular change: delivering reuse results in Essex
Independent Business of the Year – Plan B: Driving performance and value in public sector environmental services
Civic Amenity Site of the Year – Recycling excellence at Pyle Community Recycling Centre
These awards bring together more than 1,000 leaders and innovators from across the recycling and waste management sector, so it’s a real privilege to be recognised alongside some of the best service providers in the industry.
Most importantly, this recognition reflects the commitment, expertise and care our team delivers every day. The results we achieve for clients and communities are only possible because of our people.
The awards ceremony takes place on 13 May 2026. We’re keeping everything crossed for further success with our shortlisted entries.
Our streak of excellence in the G2 reports continues in the latest spring report for 2026. At 101 Blockchains, we have always strived to deliver the best learning resources to prepare professionals for emerging technologies. We are excited to share that the G2 Spring Report 2026 has awarded the tag of ‘Leader’ once again to 101 Blockchains. We have achieved an amazing 32 badges in the spring report 2026 by G2, marking another successful term.
Our team is grateful to all the learners who have trusted us and loved our learning materials. We also want to express our gratitude to G2 for being a credible reviewer of our performance and guiding us at every step of our journey to become the best in tech education. You can find a glimpse of our achievements in the Spring Report 2026 by G2 in this post.
For anyone who is new to our platform, the excitement surrounding G2 reports may not be clear. Why is everyone at 101 Blockchains so hyped up about the G2 Report released recently? The only reason for us to wait for reports by G2 is the credibility they bring to the table.
You should know that G2 is one of the world’s leading software review platforms. It is a trusted source for authentic user reviews on different software solutions that aims to help learners choose the best solutions according to their needs. On top of it, G2 also publishes reports with an assessment of the performance of online course providers like 101 Blockchains.
We trust G2 reports because they provide a clear impression of our performance based on authentic user reviews. Our achievements in all G2 reports can be traced back to real learners who have actually used our courses and certification programs. The badges awarded to us in the reports serve as a mark of our performance and the high ratings we received from valued learners.
What Have We Achieved in the G2 Spring Report 2026?
G2 has reviewed our performance in two categories, Online Course Providers and Technical Skills Development, for their latest report. We have also successfully achieved the ‘Users Love Us’ badge once again.
Online Course Providers
We have achieved 15 badges in the “Online Course Providers” category in the G2 Spring Report that was released recently. G2 has awarded us the “Leader” badge in the small business segment in this category, which offers a huge boost to our confidence. The next big achievement for 101 Blockchains is in the “Online Course Providers” category, which includes the 13 “High Performer” badges. We have achieved the highest performance in different regions, including Europe, the United Kingdom, Asia, and EMEA.
You should also know that G2 has recognized us as “High Performer” for different market segments, including enterprise, mid-market, and small business segments. It clearly represents the journey of our growth into a leading online course platform for learners to specialize in emerging technologies. As a “High Performer” across different regions and market segments, we believe that we have reached more learners with our resources.
We have also received the “Easiest Admin” badge in this category, which represents another significant achievement for us. The badge showcases how individual learners and teams find it easy to manage their learning experiences at 101 Blockchains.
Technical Skills Development
We have received 16 badges in the “Technical Skills Development” category of the latest report by G2. The striking highlight for us in this category is the list of 13 “High Performer” badges. Our performance in new markets such as Southeast Asia, Canada, the Middle East, and Africa helped us score new “High Performer” badges in this category. The most distinctive highlight among the “High Performer” badges in the “Technical Skills Development” category is the recognition for performance in the small business market segment for different regions.
We have also achieved the “Ease of Use” badge that clearly represents our commitment to empowering everyone with sought-after technical skills. The “Best Meets Requirements” badge for 101 Blockchains showcases how we tailor our learning materials according to user expectations. On top of it, the “Easiest Admin” badge in this category proves that 101 Blockchains offers an ideal platform for managing learning experiences of teams and individual learners.
Users Love Us
The best achievement for 101 Blockchains in G2 Report is the “Users Love Us” badge. We have earned this meaningful badge in all the G2 reports so far and feel proud to have earned it once again. The “Users Love Us” badge is a special one for us because it proves that our learners have achieved their goals with our resources.
G2 gives this badge to platforms that receive the most positive reviews from genuine users. As a result, we can confidently claim that our learners actually love us and believe in our platform. The “Users Love Us” badge fuels our commitment to serve our learners better and introduce better learning resources for emerging technologies.
Elevate you career with comprehensive Skill Paths and start your learning journey with top learning resources!
What Does G2’s Recognition Say About Us?
The badges we have received in the G2 Spring Report 2026 represent the tip of the iceberg of our achievements. We are more excited about the fact that our efforts in helping our learners have paid off. Each badge we have earned in the G2 reports till now indicates that we are successful in understanding what our learners want. You can see why we look forward to G2 reports in the following benefits we find in the reports.
Proof of Our Global Reach
The G2 reports show us that we are performing at the highest standards in new markets worldwide. It clearly suggests that our reach is expanding globally and our resources are helping learners from different regions.
Maintaining Quality Standards
Over the years, we have been consistently achieving badges in G2 reports that prove our commitment to serving learning resources of the highest quality. G2 badges have once again proved that we deliver the best professional training in emerging technologies. Our accredited certifications serve as the biggest proof of our dedication to ensuring the highest standards of professional training.
Recognition from Real Learners
We trust G2 reports because they showcase a clear impression of our performance on the basis of genuine user reviews. The list of G2 badges we have achieved till now proves that learners have actually got the desired benefits from our courses and certification programs.
What Are We Planning Next?
The recognition we have received in the new G2 report drives our confidence to new heights. We are striving to introduce more learning resources on new technologies with a special focus on artificial intelligence. As we expand our list of offerings, we are committed to maintaining the highest quality of professional training. From here, we look forward to welcoming new learners and preparing a new generation of professionals.
Our Thank You Note for You
Every valued learner who has trusted our courses or certifications is a part of our achievements in this new G2 report. We have become one of the leading platforms for professional training in emerging technologies solely thanks to our learners. You have acknowledged the value of our learning resources and helped us grow with your feedback and reviews. We believe you will continue supporting us in our journey of helping every learner with our professional training materials.
Final Thoughts
The new report by G2 shows us that our learners acknowledge the value of our training courses and certifications for professional development. The G2 Spring Report adds more accomplishments to our credit and encourages us to become a leading force in professional education. On top of it, the results in G2 reports continue to drive our efforts in creating new courses and certification programs focused on emerging technologies. We wholeheartedly thank every learner for trusting our learning resources and giving honest reviews for 101 Blockchains. Our team is also thankful to G2 for offering a genuine impression of what our learners think about us and our services.
Amy Bloom CRWM MCIWM, Technical Plant Engineer at SUEZ, explains why the sector must focus on communication, technical expertise, and collaboration to attract talent in 2026.
In 1927, philosopher Elbert Hubbard said, ‘nothing is permanent but change’, and almost 100 years later, these words are still as relevant today as ever.
We are living during a time of great transition, and as a sector, we are not immune to the opportunities and challenges this presents.
Twenty years ago, the term ‘waste management’ looked very different to how it looks today, and I imagine we will be saying the same in another twenty. What will we be calling it – the circular economy sector?
CIWM Early Careers Ambassador Amy Bloom CRWM.
It is undeniable that the services we provide cannot be compromised during this period. However, providing these to the public and private sectors experiencing increasing financial pressures whilst meeting our own company targets for growth is complex.
New legislation, volatility in the UK and global political landscapes and the changing focus on environmental protection also introduce further challenges.
There is a lot to do then, but who will be doing it? Are your team’s current skillsets and staffing levels sufficient to maintain servicing levels whilst supporting company growth and projects to meet future needs?
Do you have an established talent pipeline and hiring budget to ensure your team can sustain output for the next three to five years? Can you list the top three skills that will be required in *insert current job title*, too?
That is a lot of questions, and I suspect many of the answers are unknowns. Without a clear map, it is difficult to understand what skills will be required, as well as when and where.
To ensure a competitive edge in the longer term, companies must allow staff space and time to undertake directed and valuable training, seeing it as job and company critical, rather than a ‘nice to have’.
This is understandably challenging and represents a risk, especially for SMEs, due to the upfront costs.
However, the intrinsic value of training to enable personal development and improve job satisfaction whilst reducing staff turnover in the longer term will pay for itself. To offset this risk, supporting SMEs to upskill their staff could be helpful to achieve broader sector growth.
Now I hear you ask, what skills do we need, and how many? Of course, we cannot know for certain what the future will look like (if we did, I would have won the lottery by now), but I see three interlinked areas to focus on.
The first is communication; not only how, but also with whom and where.
Communication
The most common response I have heard for why someone chose to work in resource management is ‘they fell into it’, but now that they are here, they find it interesting and are unlikely to leave.
This is promising for retention, but have we become too comfortable with what we have always done? Are we only engaging with the people we have shared careers with, the events we have always presented at, and the platforms we are comfortable on?
This year at RWM, it was great to have recent graduates approach the CIWM and Early Careers Team and ask for career advice.
However, how many students or recent graduates did not attend because they were not aware? Could other industry conferences and events include career and skills development advice, or diversify their advertising?
I am sure your LinkedIn feeds are normally filled to the brim with posts for certain events, but how about diverting 10% of these to a job board website? What difference could that make?
In addition, we need to communicate and show up in the places where the people we want to target are looking for opportunities. This means learning about and appearing on different social media platforms and using language that the public can engage with. This will go a long way in challenging perceptions of what we do.
Technical skills
The second area is technical skills; like many other sectors, we are struggling to recruit the right people into these roles.
Whether it is electrical engineers who install and maintain the solar farms that are transforming closed landfills, ecologists who implement and enhance biodiversity initiatives, or data security engineers who protect valuable data, the list of roles available in our sector may surprise you.
I believe skills classed as technical are lost behind well-meaning misconceptions of ‘I was never good at maths at school’ or ‘I don’t want to work with cars’.
However, sharing and supporting the awareness of alternative narratives earlier in the educational system can challenge ideas of what a role does and what someone who does it looks like.
These conversations could be powerful for those who are already in work and may be considering a career change. We can go a step further here and provide safe and hands-on exposure to what these roles entail, helping individuals feel more confident in what they can achieve.
With effective trainers and supportive work environments, we can start to change the narrative on what people believe they are capable of, as often these roles are typically well paid, offering great job security and flexibility.
Collaboration
The final skill set that I believe to be critical is that of collaboration. At its heart, a soft skill that will support impactful integration with other sectors operating at different parts of the product lifecycle.
Effective collaboration can overcome the siloed approach to problem-solving and will be at the epicentre of developing a circular economy.
Sharing our knowledge of logistics, financial modelling and collection mechanisms to ensure products developed are put onto a market that can take them back at the end of life is a must.
Inevitably, businesses must be profitable to survive, but in the long term to thrive, collaboration will be critical to unlock ‘a multi-trillion-dollar economic opportunity’ (Financing the Circular Economy, Ellen Macarthur Foundation, 2020) that will become available in a circular economy.
Heading
These skills are not sector-specific, and through working with other areas, we can overcome shared barriers to growth together.
What we have achieved up to now cannot be overstated; as a sector, we have transformed and been central to the decarbonisation of other sectors also.
It is important that the experiences and skills of the teams that have enabled this progress must not be lost or alienated, either. Instead, we must pivot and bring them along with us to put the sector in the strongest position possible as the evolution towards circularity accelerates.
Ultimately, though, we can keep talking about skills for the future, but without real, inclusive action now, we will still be in this situation in another five years, and our global competitiveness and ability to manage our own waste will be undermined.
There are exciting opportunities ahead, and it would be great to have as many people as possible along for the ride.
