Archived press release

New recycling figures published

18 January 2005

The Government has today published new local authority recycling figures for England. These figures show that:

• The 2003-4 target of recycling 17 per cent of domestic waste has been met - 14.5 per cent was recycled in 2002/3. But England still languishes behind many of its EU neighbours, a number of which recycle over 50 per cent [1];
  
• The highest performing council is Lichfield District Council, recycling 46 per cent of its household rubbish [2];
  
• Over 40 per cent of local councils have failed to meet their individual targets; the Government has announced that councils who continue to perform poorly on recycling will face action [3].
  
• Many councils have made rapid improvements over the last year, with Flyde Borough Council increasing their level of recycling by 19 per cent since 2002/03 [4].

The Government has also indicated that the 25 per cent recycling target for 2005 is now within reach. The Government has previously described this target as a "tough challenge" [5].

Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to set more ambitious recycling targets for 2010 (currently 30 per cent), and 2015 (currently 33 per cent) [6]. Last month Friends of the Earth revealed that the Government was cutting recycling targets for nearly a quarter of local authorities in England.

A new Friends of the Earth report "Target Recycling" [7] has also been published today to coincide with the release of the latest recycling figures and the Government's review of the national waste strategy. "Target Recycling" outlines measures that the Government must introduce to tackle our current throwaway culture and match the best recycling levels in Europe.

Friends of the Earth's recycling campaigner Georgina Bloomfield said:

"We are delighted that many local councils have improved their recycling. But this country still languishes a long way behind many of our European neighbours. The Government must set more ambitious recycling targets. We should be recycling at least 50 per cent of our rubbish by 2010, an achievable target that would give us a recycling record to be proud of."

Notes

[1] 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%

[2] A complete list of local authority recycling figures can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/localauth/pdf/sps2003-4.pdf (PDF)

The highest recyclers in 2003/04:

[3] Worst performers in 2003/04:

[4] The biggest improvers since 2002/03:

[5] On 27 September and again on 18 October the Government admitted there were "tough challenges ahead" to meet the 25% recycling target for 2005/6. Defra press releases, 27/09/04 and 18/10/04.

[6] 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

[7] Target recycling - aiming for 50 per cent and beyond
(PDF format 450K)

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust