Shanks Waste Management has started commissioning its new £7 million Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Kettering, Northamptonshire.

At full capacity, the two hectare facility will create 35 new jobs and will take Shanks’ UK recycling capacity to over 1.2 million tonnes.

In a move that serves once again to highlight the damaging role the Department of Business is playing in undermining environmental and countryside protections, Vince Cable’s Department has published a plan to force the Environment Agency, Natural England and English Heritage to promote ‘sustainable development’.

Today at 8am, City Airport will be treated to a rendition of Britney Spears ‘Toxic’ by activists and locals supporting the enquiry into its air quality controls happening today.

Despite sustained local opposition, in 2009 London City Airport was granted permission to expand from 73,000 flights each year to 120,000. The increase was subject to maintaining controls on air quality and noise pollution, which will be challenged today by the General London Assembly (GLA) environment committee.

The RHS is pulling out all the stops to ensure the first ever National Gardening Week, 16–22 April 2012, is action packed to get the nation growing.

The charity hopes its plans will help trigger ideas and grow momentum to engage more schools, communities, gardeners, organisations and the garden trade to support the week. Visit www.rhs.org.uk/nationalgardeningweek or www.facebook.com/nationalgardeningweek to get involved and share ideas.