The Government and UK industry will have to do far more to improve the amount of waste recycled after a European Commission (EC) report called [1] for tough new euro-recycling laws. The study's recommendations - which are likely to be adopted - are that the EU Packaging Directive, which is currently being revised, should double its recycling targets to between 50%-68% of waste packaging. Last week the Government released new figures [2]showing that regions across England and Wales are recycling a pitiful amount of household waste.

Last week's EC report concluded that recycling rates for packaging waste should be doubled(from between 25%-45%) to achieve an optimal balance between economic cost and environmental benefit. A revised EU Packaging Directive will be proposed this summer.

The UK's woeful recycling performance was highlighted by recently published Government figures: While the South East is best, recycling 16%, the North East only manages to recycle 6%. Overall the average is just 11%. Switzerland, Germany and Austria all recycle around 50% of their waste.

REGION        Municipal waste recycling rate
North East                 6%
North West                 9%
Yorkshire and the Humber         8%
East Midlands                11%
West Midlands                10%
Eastern                15%
London                 9%
South East                16%
South West                15%
Wales                       6%
Total                    11%

Sarah Oppenheimer, Friends of the Earth's waste campaigner said:
“These latest Government recycling figures are shameful. But it needn't be like this. Some of our European neighbours recycle half their waste. The next Government must do more to ensure that every household has a doorstep recycling collection service. Recycling should be as easy as putting the rubbish out.”

Friends of the Earth is calling for every household to have a doorstep recycling collection service and for the Government to set tough targets for recycling all waste. The Tories have promised that every house will have recyclables collected separately from other waste, and the Lib Dems have pledged doorstep recycling collection for every household by the end of the next Parliament, along with the aim to recycle 60% of household waste within 10 years. Labour have set statutory recycling targets for local authorities, but these are too low, aiming for just 33% by 2015, and lead to scores of new incinerators across the country to manage our waste.

Notes

[1] The report on life-cycle and cost-benefit effects of raised recycling targets in the EU was produced by consultants RDC and Pira international for the European Commission.

[2] On 22nd May 2001 the DETR released summary results from the Department's Municipal Waste Management Survey, based on information supplied by local authorities in England and Wales for the financial year 1999/2000. A full report will be published in July.

Comparative Packaging Recycling Rates
EUROPEAN CONTAINER GLASS COLLECTION 1999
Source: FEVE

EUROPEAN STEEL PACKAGING RECYCLING 1999
Source: APEAL

ALUMINIUM CAN RECYCLING 1998, Source:European Aluminium Association