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MPs URGED TO BACK RECYCLING BILL

22 Jan 2003

Lobby and Rally of Parliament in support of the Doorstep Recycling Bill

Rally (1pm), Lobby (from 2pm) Wednesday 22 January 2003

People from across the country are coming to London on Wednesday 22 January to urge their MPs to support a proposed new law that would ensure that every household in England and Wales is provided with a doorstep recycling service. The UK only recycles around 12 % of its waste, with some local authorities recycling as little as 1% [1]. Some of our European neighbours – such as Austria (64 %) and Belgium (52%) - have a far more impressive waste record [2].

The Doorstep Recycling Bill, drawn up by Friends of the Earth, has been introduced to Parliament as a Private Members Bill by Lewisham Deptford MP Joan Ruddock. However, although calls for comprehensive doorstep recycling have received backing from well more than half of MPs (384 out of 659), it will only become law if enough turn up and vote when it is debated in the House of Commons. The first debate is on 14 March.

There is a huge difference in recycling rates between regions (2000/01):
South East         16.4 %           East         15.1%     South West    15 %
E Midlands         13.1 %        W Midlands    9 %        London     8.7 %
North West         7.8 %        Yorks/Hum    7.2 %            N East    4.1 %

The variation is even greater between local authorities. According to the latest figures, the best are Daventry (42 %), Eastleigh (32 %) and Forest Heath (28%), but some are as low as 1% (for a complete list see note 1). But if Joan Ruddock's Bill becomes law, every local authority will have to provide a quality doorstep recycling service [6].

Friends of the Earth's waste campaigner Karine Pellaumail said:
“Most of our waste is either dumped in holes in the ground or incinerated. This is bad for the environment, a potential threat to people’s health and deeply unpopular. If it becomes law, the Doorstep Recycling Bill will dramatically increase recycling rates by providing every household in England with a collection scheme making recycling as easy as putting out the rubbish. People throughout the country can give their support by joining the Waste Lobby on Wednesday 22 January or contacting their MP and urging them to back Joan Ruddock’s Bill.”

Joan Ruddock MP said:
“The Doorstep Recycling Bill will make a significant contribution to increasing the amount of waste that this country recycles. I hope that as many people as possible will come to the rally and urge their MPs to turn up and vote for my Bill when it is debated in Parliament on 14 March.”

Notes

1. The latest government figures on recycling rates for English local authorities (2000/01) can be found in ‘annex b’ on: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/wastats/mwb0001/tables.htm#annexb
   
   
2. EU recycling league table (Source: Environmental Signals 2002 - European Environment Agency, except where shown).
   64%     Austria     (recycling 24 %/ compost 40 %)
   52 %    Belgium     (37 %/15 %)
   48%     Germany     *
   47 %    Netherlands    (24%/23%)
   39 %    Denmark    (25%/14%)
   33 %     Finland    (30%3%)
   33 %    Sweden    (25%/8%)
   27 %    Spain        (16%/11%)
   16 %    Italy        (7%/9%)
   14 %    France    (8%/6%)
   11 %    UK        (9%/2%)
   9 %    Portugal    (4%/5%)
   8 %    Greece    (8%/0%)
   * 1996 (source: Resource Recovery Forum Warmer Bulletin). Figures for Ireland and Luxemburg not available.
   
   
3. More info at www.foe.co.uk/waste_lobby
   
   
4. Most MPs have backed calls for every household to have doorstep recycling either by signing a pledge or signing a Parliamentary Motion. See: www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/doorstep_recycling_mps.pdf
   
   
5. The ‘Waste No More’ Parliamentary Lobby and Rally is on Wednesday 22 January. The rally starts at 1 pm, Emmanuel Centre, 9-23 Marsham St SW1P. (nearest tube Westminster and St James's Park).The Parliamentary lobby is all afternoon from 2pm, at the St Stephen's Entrance to the Houses of Parliament. More information: www.foe.co.uk/waste_lobby or telephone: 020 7490 1555.
   
   
6. Local authorities have already been provided with some money for recycling. If more is needed the Government could use the proceeds from its planned increase of the landfill tax.

Waste facts and figures

• Nine out of ten people in England and Wales would recycle more waste if it was made easier according to an Environment Agency survey (EA Press Release 23 May 2002).
  
  
• Around 80 per cent of household waste could be either recycled or composted, dramatically reducing the need for landfill
  
  
• The average household produces around a tonne of waste each year. The amount of waste produced in the UK is rising by over three per cent per annum.
  
  
• In April this year, the Environment Agency warned that space for burying rubbish in the South East could run out within seven years. Northern Ireland has already exported some of its household waste to Scotland for landfill.
  
  
• Incineration is deeply unpopular. Community groups around the country are opposing incineration proposals because of concerns about the risk to health and the environmental impact. Once built, incinerators need more and more waste, which could otherwise be recycled, to make them economically viable.
  
  
• By 2020 the amount of UK municipal waste is set to double (Government Strategy Unit);
  
  
• The UK uses over 6 billion glass containers each year, amounting to over 2 million tonnes. Less than quarter (22%) were recycled in 1998. The European average is 50 per cent, with some countries recycling 80%. (British Glass)
  
  
• Up to 90% of new glass could be made from reclaimed scrap glass. (British Glass).
  
  
• Recycling aluminium can bring energy savings of up to 95% and produce 95% less greenhouse gas emissions than when it is produced from raw materials. (Alupro)
  
  
• Around 20,000 tonnes of aluminium foil packaging (worth £8 million) is wasted each year. Only 3,000 tonnes is recycled.
  
  
• Packaging is typically 25-35% (by weight) of dustbin waste.
  
  
• Plastic bags sent to landfill take around 500 years to decay. The UK uses 500 million of these each week. A tax on plastic bags in Ireland has resulted in a 90% reduction in their consumption. More than 9 million euros (£5.73 million) was raised during the first four months of the scheme. The money will be used to fund new waste management and other environmental initiatives. The ban was introduced in March this year. Shoppers are now charged about 10p for each bag they take from supermarkets and other shopping outlets. Before the legislation was enacted, an estimated 1.2 billion bags were handed out to Irish shoppers free of charge each year.

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