Archived press release

Government urged to increase recycling target as latest figures are revealed

8 March 2005

Friends of the Earth called on the Government to set more ambitious recycling targets after Government figures revealed that it had met its target to recycle 17 per cent of domestic waste for 2003/4 [1]. Despite recent improvements the UK continues to languish near the foot of the European recycling league table [2].

The Government is due to review its national waste strategy - Waste Strategy 2000 - for England. The Government currently aims to recycle 30 per cent of domestic waste by for 2010, and 33 per cent by 2015 [3]. Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to set ambitious new targets of 50 per cent by 2010 and 75 per cent by 2015 [4].

Georgina Bloomfield, Recycling Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

"Despite the fact that UK recycling is at record levels, we still manage to recycle less than most of our EU neighbours. The Government should do more to address prevention and set more ambitious recycling targets. Aiming to recycle half of our waste is an achievable target and would give us a recycling record to be proud of."

The new Municipal Waste Management Survey for England, published today, reveals that:

• The 2003-4 target of recycling 17 per cent of household waste has been met - 17.7 per cent was recycled in 2002/3, an increase of over 3 per cent since 2002/03.
• 19 per cent of municipal waste was recycled in 2003/04. But England still languishes behind many of its EU neighbours, a number of which recycle over 50 per cent [1];
• The amount of municipal waste produced in 2003/04 dropped by 1 per cent from the previous year - but this is still more waste than was produced in 2001/02.

The Government also published the latest recycling figures for each English region. [5].

Notes

[1] England meets and beats its recycling & composting target. Defra press release 08/03/05.

[2] Municipal Waste Management in the EU 2001
(Source: e-Digest of Environmental Statistics, February 2003) Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

Netherlands 59%
Austria 58%
Germany 53%
Belgium 39%
Sweden 39%
Luxembourg 36%
Denmark 32%
Spain 28%
Finland 25%
France 25%
Italy 24%
Ireland 13%
United Kingdom 13%*
Greece 9%
Portugal 4%

* The UK figure will now have changed.

[3] Government recycling targets for England are:

17% recycling or composting by 2003-4
25% recycling or composting by 2005
30% recycling or composting by 2010
33% recycling or composting by 2015

[4] Friends of the Earth's "Target Recycling" report outlines measures that the Government must introduce to tackle our current throwaway culture and match the best recycling levels in Europe. Target recycling - aiming for 50 per cent and beyond (PDF format 450K)

[5] Regions household waste recycling (%)

East - 23.3
South East - 22.7
South West - 21.4
East Midlands - 19.2
West Midlands - 15.9
Yorkshire and Humber - 14.5
North West - 14.1
London - 13.2
North East - 11.9

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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