This call for evidence will explore how changes to the tax system or charges could be used to reduce the amount of single-use plastics we waste by reducing unnecessary production, increasing reuse, and improving recycling. The government would also like to explore how we can also drive innovation in this area to achieve the same outcomes.

The government will consider all options for using the tax system to address single-use plastic waste and to drive innovation, and will use the evidence gathered from this call to inform that process. The government wants to look broadly across the whole supply chain, from production and retail to consumption and disposal, in order to gain the best possible understanding of the whole landscape before deciding on the best course of action.

Single-use plastic waste: call for evidenc

This document provides detail on a food product from the UK, Scottish Wild Venison, which is being considered under the EU protected food names scheme.

The EU protected food name scheme covers regional and traditional foods whose authenticity and origin can be guaranteed.

The EU will only give a product the PGI mark if they decide it has a reputation, characteristics or qualities that are a result of the area it’s associated with.

We want to know what you think about our proposal to ban the use of electronic training collars for cats and dogs.

Electronic training collars (e-collars) are corrective behaviour devices which allow electronic shocks to be applied to pets by their owners.

To protect the welfare of cats and dogs, we wish to ban their use by introducing regulations under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Wylfa is seeking a new home for 5 ageing back-up generators whose illustrious cousin, the Rolls-Royce Proteus Gas Turbine Generator, famously powered Donald Campbell’s Bluebird CN7 as it smashed the world land speed record in 1964.

The first 4 generators, each capable of 3MW output, provided essential standby electricity in the event that normal supplies were lost.

In 1983, a fifth Proteus turbine was installed to provide additional power to Wylfa’s Secondary Dry Store Cells, used to hold spent nuclear fuel after being removed from the reactors.

They were believed to be the last remaining Proteus Gas Turbines in use anywhere in the world but, after 47 years of faithful service, they were stood down on 20 January 2018.

When electricity generation at Wylfa ended in 2015 the site’s Electrical Overlay System was capable of providing back-up electricity supplies and there was no further need for the gas turbines.

The Proteus engine has a distinguished history: having seen naval service in fast torpedo boats, powered the Bluebird CN7 car used by Donald Campbell to break the world land speed record in 1964, powered cross-channel hovercraft until 2000 and provided essential supplies to Magnox’s Oldbury Power Station in Gloucestershire.

The gas turbines will be disconnected and all potential hazards removed, such as oils and batteries, before the asset disposals team sets about finding them a new home.

Highly radioactive liquid, known as raffinate, has been stored in tanks for around 20 years after being produced as a by-product of Prototype Fast Reactor (PFR) fuel reprocessing.

A project is underway to reduce the risk by filling more than 30 drums with 15,000 litres of solid waste as part of an initial commissioning process.

Project Manager, Stuart Andrew, explained:

One of the reasons that this material is so hazardous is because it is in a mobile, liquid form.

We are taking an exact amount of liquid waste from each tank to create a consistent blend. It is then mixed with cement, pulverised fuel ash and lime powders to create a stable solid waste package.

Waste Director Sam Usher added:

This is probably our highest single remaining hazard at Dounreay. Safely and compliantly creating the first solid waste drums is a huge achievement for the team and a major step forward as we deal with the site’s legacy hazards.

It has taken almost 2 years to modify the plant and equipment which was previously used to process more than 230m³ of Dounreay Fast Reactor raffinate.

Up to 100 drums are expected to be produced in the next few months, as part of the first phase of this programme, with all PFR raffinate expected to have been processed within the next 5 years.

Mark Raffle, Lead Programme Manager from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, said:

Immobilisation of this highly radioactive liquid will be a significant step towards reducing the remaining hazards at Dounreay.

Completion of this work will enable decommissioning of the major facility where the material is currently stored, moving the site closer towards its interim end state.

Suppliers are being asked to express their interest in a contract to construct an extension to the facility where the waste packages will be stored – in accordance with the Scottish Government’s higher activity radioactive waste policy. The multi-million pound project is expected to begin later this year.