Archived press release

FOE calls for tougher recycling targets. New report highlights UK recycling successes

12 March 2001

Friends of the Earth today called on the Government to introduce tougher recycling targets and put more money into local authority recycling schemes. The call comes as a new report, published today, revealed that some innovative recycling schemes across Britain were achieving recycling rates of more than 50 per cent - far higher than the Government's statutory target of 30 per cent by 2010. FOE also urged the Government to back a Private Members' bill, which will be debated tomorrow (Tuesday), to massively increase doorstep recycling collection schemes in the UK [1].

The UK has an appalling record on recycling domestic waste, languishing near the bottom of the European league table at around 8 per cent. And although Labour's 30 per cent target is a distinct improvement it falls far short of what is currently being achieved by countries such as Switzerland(52%), Germany (48%) and Austria (48%). It also falls far short of what some UK schemes already achieve, and which more could reach, if they had proper funding.

The Government waste strategy also encourages incineration. Local authorities have been told that they must “recover” two thirds of domestic waste by 2015. This figure includes one third from recycling, but many local authorities are planning to burn half or more of their municipal waste.Local communities across the country are already fighting proposals. Friends of the Earth is calling for a moratorium on any new landfill or incineration, and for the inspirational schemes outlined inRecycling in Action to be adopted across the UK.

Recycling In Action, written by the Community Recycling Network for Friends of the Earth, examines 15 innovative recycling schemes across England and Wales. The schemes cover a wide variety of environments, from inner cities to isolated rural areas, and show that with proper resourcing, recycling and composting can work anywhere. Areas examined include Mersea Island(57% of domestic waste recycled), Wealden, East Sussex (53 %) and Sutton (44 %).

Sarah Oppenheimer, Waste Campaigner at FOE said:
“The Government's target of recycling a third of our waste by 2010 is totally inadequate. Our report shows that far more can be recycled. All that's lacking is proper investment and political will. Recycling and composting should be easy. Every household should have a doorstep collection service so we can avoid the need for landfill and incineration. If the Government doesn't act we'll remain at the bottom of the European recycling league.”

[1] The Recycling (doorstep collection) Bill is being introduced by Paul Marsden MP (Shrewsbury - Lab) as a 10 Minute Rule Bill. If passed it would ensure the doorstep collection of recyclable waste from all residential properties in England & Wales and set a 20 year target for increasing recycling to meet European obligations.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust