Archived press release

Government must tackle waste crisis

13 September 2002

The Government’s Strategy Unit today published an interim discussion document on the need to tackle the UK’s mounting waste crisis (www.piu.gov.uk).

Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to:

• Rule out the building of new mass-burn incinerators;
• Increase the UK domestic waste recycling target to at least 50 per cent by 2010;
• Ensure that every household has access to a doorstep recycling collection scheme;
• Put in place a comprehensive strategy to reduce waste.

Mike Childs, Waste campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

“The time has come for the Government to take decisive action to tackle the UK’s growing waste crisis. Landfilling waste or burning it in incinerators is bad for the environment and deeply unpopular with the public. The UK must introduce doorstep recycling for every household and set a target of recycling at least half of our household waste by 2010. If our neighbours in Europe can achieve this, why can’t we?”

Waste Facts and Figures

• The UK currently languishes near the bottom of the European recycling league table. Only around 11 % of the UK’s 28 million tonnes of domestic waste produced annually is recycled. This compares badly with neighbours such as Switzerland (52%), Austria (49.7%), Germany (48%) and the Netherlands (46%).
• The current government recycling target is a very unambitious 30 per cent by 2010. FOE says it should be at least 50 per cent by 2010.
• Nine out of ten people in England and Wales would recycle more waste if it was made easier an Environment Agency survey revealed in May this year (EA press Release 23 May).
• In April the Environment Agency warned that space for burying rubbish in the South East could run out within seven years. Northern Ireland is already exporting some of its household waste to Scotland for landfill.
• Growing waste, unambitious recycling targets and rapidly filling landfill sites are leading more waste authorities to push for waste incineration. Many 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.
• Friends of the Earth is campaigning for a new law for mandatory doorstep recycling and composting service. A Parliamentary Motion supporting a doorstep scheme for every household (EDM 186) has already been signed by more than 200 MPs. It also has official support from both the Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties. If the Government fails to act, FOE will work with MPs that wish to introduce a new recycling law as a Private Members Bill later this year.
• Around 80% of household waste could be either recycled or composted, dramatically reducing the need for landfill

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust