Latest News
ACE UK joins call for government to deliver Circular Economy Growth Plan
ACE UK has joined over 50 businesses and trade associations in a letter to Defra Secretary of State Emma Reyolds, urging the government to publish its long delayed Circular Economy Growth Plan. Co-ordinated by the Green Alliance, the letter expresses concern surrounding the ongoing delay to the plan, which could ‘harm momentum towards a more resilient,…
Read MoreLiquid Cartons now carry the OPRL Recycle Label
This month marks another big milestone for ACE UK as all new liquid cartons will carry the OPRL Recycle label. In simple terms, that means consumers can put them straight into their household recycling bin. This change has been made possible through work between industry groups, our members and the On-Pack Recycling Label Scheme, which…
Read MoreKerbside collection of cartons reaches 86% of UK councils
We are really pleased to share that liquid cartons are now widely collected in the UK. As of 6th April 2026, 86% of UK local authorities accept cartons as part of their kerbside recycling collection service. The milestone marks a significant step in a journey that began back in 2007 with the members of ACE…
Read MoreACE UK supports establishment of new cross-party group in Parliament
ACE UK has supported the foundation of a high-level group in Parliament, which aims to better understand the UK’s vibrant packaging sector and to advocate for a policy landscape which improves recycling outcomes. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Packaging and the Circular Economy brings together MPs and Peers with packaging industry leaders and provides…
Read MoreACE UK PRESS RELEASE: Recycling Label Milestone for Liquid Cartons Welcomed by ACE UK
OPRL has recently confirmed that cartons used for food, drink and other liquids, including aseptic and chilled cartons, will carry its widely recognised ‘Recycle’ label from 1 April 2026. This marks a major milestone for packaging recyclability in the UK and follows England’s Simpler Recycling reforms, which mandates liquid cartons for kerbside collection by April…
Read MoreACE UK PRESS RELEASE: Ben Powell appointed as Head of External Affairs
The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) UK has announced the appointment of Ben Powell as its new Head of External Affairs, bolstering progress towards the organisation’s mission of boosting liquid carton recycling across the UK. Ben’s appointment comes at a critical time for UK waste and recycling policy, with 16 months to…
Read MoreJOINT STATEMENT: Paper and glass trade associations unite to rally against commingled collections
The Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI), British Glass and The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) UK have united to urge Defra to rethink its decision to allow commingled collections of paper, card, glass and liquid cartons under Simpler Recycling. Current proposals threaten the quality of recovered materials, which in turn, stand against…
Read MoreMandy Kelly appointed as Chief Executive of ACE UK, succeeding Richard Hands
With over 30 years of experience in the recycling industry and nearly 10 years working as the senior recycling manager at ACE UK, Mandy Kelly has been appointed as Chief Executive of the liquid carton trade association. Mandy is taking the reins from Richard Hands, who has led ACE UK since its founding in 2010.…
Read MoreACE UK STATEMENT: ACE UK has supported the installation of a Recycleye robotic arm, boosting sorting of liquid cartons at the Veolia Southwark facility
The Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) UK, working in partnership with recycling AI engineers Recycleye and waste managers Veolia, has unveiled an advanced, automated sorting system to boost the volume of liquid cartons separated for direct reprocessing in South London. ACE UK is supporting the installation of Recyleye Vision technology at the…
Read MoreACE UK PRESS RELEASE: ACE UK launches Carton Ready campaign to support Simpler Recycling reforms in England
Following the publication of the UK Government’s Simpler Recycling reforms, food, drink and other liquid cartons will be collected alongside plastic and other dry-recyclable materials across England. These changes will ensure that from March 2026 all English households will be able to recycle liquid cartons with confidence, bringing an end to the current fragmented system.…
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