Successes

Recycling Bill success!
1 October 2003

After a long and hard fought campaign the Household Waste Recycling Act cleared the House of Lords and received Royal Assent on 30 October 2003, thus signifying the end of it's rollercoaster journey through Parliament.

Congratulations must go to the Bill sponsor Joan Ruddock, MP for Lewisham and Deptford, and Baroness Gale, who negotiated the Bill's passage through the House of Lords. By 2010, local authorities will have to provide every household in England with a separate collection of at least two types of recyclable materials. The Act also enables Wales to enact similar legislation, if they wish.

The public has been crying out for an easy way to recycle for many years. Now every household in England will have their recycling collected - something Friends of the Earth has campaigned on for over two years. We're delighted about this powerful new law which should lead to a dramatic increase in the UK's recycling rate.

Claire Wilton, Senior Waste Campaigner, Friends of the Earth

The campaign for this Act has involved many thousands of supporters and without their help it wouldn't have been possible to prove the demand for doorstep recycling services. At the moment, only 40 per cent of households are offered a collection service for two or more materials. This new law will mean that everyone will have the ability to take part in recycling and make England a greener place to live.

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