Archived press release

50,000 new jobs could be created by recycling more - new research

14 September 2010

More than 50,000 new recycling jobs would be created across the country if the UK set more ambitious recycling targets according to a new report launched by Friends of the Earth today [Tuesday 14 September 2010].

The green campaigning charity's report, 'More jobs, less waste', shows that at least 51,400 new jobs would be created across the UK if we recycled 70 per cent of the waste collected by local councils.

At least a further 18,800 jobs could be created if we recycled commercial and industrial waste at the same rate.

But if the UK only recycles 50% of council-collected waste - the minimum required by 2020 under EU law - then we would lose out on nearly twenty-five thousand jobs.

Wales and Scotland have both recently announced that they plan to recycle 70 per cent of council-collected waste by 2025, yet Northern Ireland and England - where the vast majority of waste is generated - are still aiming to recycle only 50 per cent.

The UK Coalition Government has recently started a review of waste policy in England and as part of this Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to set ambitious recycling targets.

Friends of the Earth's waste campaigner Julian Kirby said:

"Recycling is a win-win for the environment and the economy - saving precious resources and creating many more jobs than expensive and outdated incinerators.

"The Government must be ambitious in setting recycling rates - better product design, as well as action to stop supermarkets and producers selling products that can't be recycled, means that we could easily achieve upwards of 75 per cent recycling rates by 2025.

"If the Coalition is serious about creating a green, jobs-rich economy then it must unlock the wealth in our waste and help consumers to recycle as much as possible."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1.   A copy of the report 'More Jobs Less Waste' is available from the Friends of the Earth website.

2.   The report finds that recycling creates around ten times more jobs per tonne than sending rubbish to landfill or incineration.

3.   Friends of the Earth research has shown that at least £650 million pounds worth of recyclable materials are incinerated or landfilled each year in the UK.

4.   Friends of the Earth's waste campaigners Julian Kirby and Dr Michael Warhurst are available for interview. Please contact the press office on 020 7566 1649 for further information.

5.   More information on Friends of the Earth's waste campaigning can be found on our website. 

6.   The UK's management of municipal waste currently sustains around 118,000 jobs, processing 33.4 million tonnes of waste in 2008.

7.   The number of jobs created in the economy is based on projections for the number of jobs created directly per tonne of waste recycled (29,379 jobs at 70% municipal waste recycling rate), plus the number of "indirect" (14,689 jobs) and "induced" (7,345 jobs) jobs created consequently in the wider economy. A full overview of the methodology used is available as part of the report.

8.   The Coalition's "Review of Waste Policy" involves discussions and an online survey which closed on 9th September, and a "Call for Evidence" which closes on 7th October 2010. The early results of the review are expected in spring 2011. The Government is also consulting on the implementation of the EU Waste Framework Directive, closing date 16th September 2010, which sets a minimum 50% recycling rate for municipal waste.

9.   'More jobs, less waste' was written for Friends of the Earth by economist Anna MacGillivray from URSUS Consulting, with additional data analysis and peer review provided by Dr Julian Parfitt of Resource Futures. The authors produced several scenarios within a "New Austerity" context of a stabilised rate of generation of waste, considered the most likely. They analysed a range of datasets to create conservative projections for the number of jobs created within the UK (compared to 2006) and across the EU (compared to 2008) by recycling either 50% or 70% of various waste streams.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust