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05 Aug 1998
Friends of the Earth has today welcomed a new report which says that recycling newspaper has clear environmental benefits compared with incinerating it [1]. The report , by Aylesford Newsprint, found that recycling causes less pollution and pumps fewer greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. However, FOE is disappointed that the report failed to look at the impact that virgin paper production has on forests and wildlife - if this had been included the benefits of recycling would have been even clearer.
The UK ranks very low in the European paper recycling league [2], largely because the prices paid for waste paper are volatile. Friends of the Earth, together with Community Recycling Network and WasteWatch, are currently promoting the Recycled Content of Newsprint Bill which would double the recycled content of newspapers from 40% to 80%by 2010. This would stabilise the market for waste paper and dramatically improve the UK's
poor paper recycling record. Moreover, if this target were met nearly 10,000 new UK jobs would be created. The Bill has widespread support from over 250 MPs, local authorities,and many within the waste industry.
[1] Newsprint - A Life-Cycle Study, Ecobalance UK, 5th August 1998. Copies are available from Aylesford Newsprint, tel 01622 796000. The report refers to the recycling process at Aylesford Newsprint's plant in Kent.
[2] Paper Recycling Rates in Europe (1996)
Country Per cent
Germany 71.1
Austria 70.8
Switzerland 67.4
Sweden 66.2
Netherlands 64.7
Finland 61.5
Denmark 53.9
Norway 49.8
France 41.2
Spain 41.1
UK 39.6
Portugal 39.4
Belgium 38.2
Greece 32.9
Italy 30.7
Ireland 12.2
Source: Environment Watch: Western Europe, September 1997
[3] Less Waste More Value - a Consultation Paper on the Waste Strategy for England and Wales, DETR, June 1998
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