Press release

Government waste figures show recycling more popular than ever

3 February 2011

 Responding to the news that the amount of household waste being recycled, reused or composted in England has topped 40 per cent for the first time, Becky Slater, waste campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said:

"The spectacular growth in recycling over the last 10 years has helped Britain save cash, tackle climate change and create thousands of new jobs.

"People around the UK are keen to get even more rubbish out of their bins - and we're all frustrated by unnecessary packaging and having to bin stuff that councils don't recycle.

"The Government should make more recycling possible in our homes and workplaces, and aim to halve the rubbish that has to go into our black bin bags by 2020."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. The official quarterly statistics from the Environment Department (Defra) showed that 40.1 per cent of household waste was recycled or reused in the 12 months to June 2010.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust