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"NEWSPAPER CHALLENGE" FOR MICHAEL MEACHER

13 Jan 1999

Friends of the Earth today pledged to carry on its campaign to make newspapers use more recycled paper - and for newspapers and magazines to pay for the recycling of the products they sell. The pledge comes after FOE's Recycled Content of Newsprint Bill was not adopted as a Private Members Bill following the recent ballot in Parliament [1].

The Recycled Content of Newsprint Bill would ensure that a healthy market exists for newspapers and magazines collected for recycling, by obliging newspapers to have an 80 per cent recycled content. It would also require newspapers and magazine publishers to fund recycling schemes. The Bill would bring important environmental benefits. It would reduce pressure on wildlife rich-forests and reduce waste going to landfill. It would also create jobs.

As well as continuing to build on the support the Bill already has within the House of Commons(with over 250 MPs supporting the Bill), FOE will:

.    Increase pressure on Michael Meacher MP, Minister for the Environment, to use existing powers to introduce legislation. Over a year ago, Michael Meacher challenged the newspaper industry to come forwards with voluntary targets for recycled content. So far they have failed to act
.    Demand the implementation of the EU's Landfill Directive, which sets targets for diverting waste from landfill, and includes producer responsibility legislation for newspapers and magazines (making publishers collect and recycle a proportion of the goods they publish).

Mike Childs, Senior Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

“We are disappointed that the Bill didn't get adopted. But our campaign continues.Support for the Bill is increasing by the day. Michael Meacher needs to take notice.Recyclers everywhere are saying that we need action now if Government promises to increase recycling rates are ever to be achieved. Meanwhile the newspaper industry is laughing in the face of Government demands. “

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The Private Members Bill ballot took place in early December. Of the twenty MPs selected, a number of MPs gave the Recycled Content of Newsprint Bill serious consideration. The next ballot with be at the beginning of the next Parliamentary session in late 1999.

[2] Friends of the Earth will be discussed options for progressing the Recycled Content of Newsprint Bill with The Community Recycling Network and Waste Watch.

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