Archived press release
Go to our press releases area for our current press releases.
Government waste strategy must tackle recycling
29 July 2010
Commenting on a review of England's waste policy launched by Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman today, which will look at the way waste is collected from homes and businesses as well as means of reducing packaging and increasing recycling, Friends of the Earth's senior resource use campaigner Dr. Michael Warhurst said:
"This review is an important opportunity to tackle our huge waste mountain and save money by recycling more - the UK wastes over £650 million every year by burying and burning quality materials.
"We need to set England the more ambitious target of recycling 75 per cent of its waste by 2025. Wales and Scotland have put England to shame by setting 70 per cent targets, and Flanders in Belgium is recycling even more.
"We need to ditch PFI funding for dirty incinerators - which release more carbon emissions per unit of electricity than a gas power station.
"Fortnightly waste collections must stay - if food waste is picked up weekly from homes there is no reason why it would be unhygienic to collect the remaining rubbish fortnightly.
"The Government must increase targets for recycling packaging waste so businesses play their fair part in creating a zero-waste society."
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
Last modified: Jul 2010
