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New tax will promote incineration not recycling

16 Sep 1996

A new tax [1] on the disposal of waste to landfill should be increased and extended to the burning of waste in incinerators if it is to help the environment. Friends of the Earth is calling for an effective tax that would lead to more of an incentive to reduce, reuse and recycle waste which is good for jobs,economy and the environment.

The present average recycling rate is 5% (local figures attached plus best and worst authorities) [2],and Government advisors estimate that the tax will only increase this by one per cent but is likely to increase incineration by five per cent [3]. FOE is calling for the landfill tax to be increased to at least £30 per tonne and extended to cover incineration. If 40% of domestic waste was recycled by the year 2,000 we could create over 10,000 jobs; simply using returnable bottles could lead to a further 4,000 jobs [4].

Mike Childs, Senior Campaigner, Industry & Pollution said
". This new tax is a good but very small first small step in tackling our throwaway society. The Government needs to extend the tax to cover incineration so that we conserve resources instead of simply turning waste mountains into burning pyres."

Notes to editor

1. The Landfill Tax will be introduced on October 1st. Domestic Waste will be taxed at £7 per tonne.
2. Audit Commission, Local Authority Performance Indicators, 1995, HMSO.
3. Department of the Environment, Landfill Costs and Prices: Correcting Possible Market Distortions, A study by Coopers & Lybrand, 1993, HMSO.

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