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Rethink rubbish - think recycling
22 May 2002
Friends of the Earth today welcomed the Rethink Rubbish campaign, launched by Environment Minister, Michael Meacher – and urged the Government to rethink its strategy for tackling the nation’s growing waste mountain.
The campaign, launched by the National Waste Awareness Initiative [1], aims to encourage people to think twice before throwing away their rubbish and to recycle more.
Britain currently lags behind most European countries in the recycling league table [2]. Friends of the Earth is calling for doorstep recycling schemes for every home to improve recycling rates. The environment group believes this is the only way of significantly increasing levels of recycling.
Doorstep recycling has already gained cross-party political support. The Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives have included the scheme in their manifestos, while Tony Blair has said every local authority should provide doorstep recycling schemes [3]. A Parliamentary Motion supporting doorstep recycling for every home, Early Day Motion 186, has been signed by more than 200 MPs.
Mike Childs, Recycling Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said:
“The answer to the waste crisis in this country is clear – doorstep recycling for every home. This will mean less need for unpopular incineration and landfill; will boost jobs locally and will lift us off the bottom of the European recycling league. The Government must take the bull by the horns and ensure that recycling is as easy throwing things away.”
Notes:
[1] The National Waste Awareness Initiative is co-ordinated by Waste Watch and SWAP (Save Waste and Proper)
[2] England recycles 12 per cent of waste, compared to 52 per cent in Switzerland
[3] Green speech, October 2000.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Jun 2008
