More recycling means more jobs for Wales

14 September 2010

Higher recycling targets mean more jobs, according to a report [1] launched by Friends of the Earth today (Tuesday 14 September 2010).

More than 50,000 new recycling jobs would be created if the UK as a whole reached the 70 per cent recycling target adopted by Wales. England is still aiming to recycle only 50 per cent.

Friends of the Earth Cymru's campaigner, Haf Elgar, said:

"Our new report shows that recycling is a win-win for the environment and the economy - saving precious resources and creating many more jobs.

"It's good that the Welsh Assembly Government is recognizing this, and has set recycling targets well above those that England hopes to achieve. With these targets Wales could get more of the green jobs we need so much.

"Of course, we could be achieving more than 70 per cent. With all the benefits that higher recycling rates bring, we need to set our sights high.

"And there's now no doubt that building massive incinerators to burn our rubbish is not good for the environment - or the economy. This report finds that recycling creates around ten times more jobs per tonne than sending rubbish to landfill or incineration."

NOTES

1. A copy of the report More jobs, less waste  is available from the Friends of the Earth website
2. Friends of the Earth research has shown that at least £650 million pounds worth of recyclable materials are incinerated or landfilled each year in the UK
3. 'More jobs, less waste' was written for Friends of the Earth by economist Anna MacGillivray from URSUS Consulting, with additional data analysis and peer review provided by Dr Julian Parfitt of Resource Futures. The authors produced several scenarios within a "New Austerity" context of a stabilised rate of generation of waste, considered the most likely. They analysed a range of datasets to create conservative projections for the number of jobs created within the UK (compared to 2006) and across the EU (compared to 2008) by recycling either 50% or 70% of various waste streams.
4. 'Incineration is not green' - Friends of the Earth Cymru comment on the Welsh Assembly Government Waste Strategy

For further information, please contact Friends of the Earth Cymru on 029 2022 9577