Household waste recycling doubles

The amount of household waste being recycled has doubled in the last four years, the latest figures from Defra have found.

More than a fifth (23%) of household waste produced by homes in England was recycled in 2004/05, according to the latest figures.

However, there were variations in different regions around the country. Residents in the north east were found to recycle the least, with just 16% of waste being recycled, while those in the east recycled 29% of waste. The amount of waste being recycled also increased greatly in the east Midlands, increasing from 7% to 27% this year.

Local Environmental Quality Minister, Ben Bradshaw said that progress had been made, but more would need to be done in order to meet the target of 30% of waste being recycled by 2010. He said: “These figures prove how much more people understand the importance of recycling compared to even just four years ago. Every person in England is currently recycling enough to fill 8 green wheelie bins, but we could be recycling as much as 20 bins worth – up to 60% of our waste.”

The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), which organises the government’s national Recycle Now campaign for England, said that every household could recycle up to 60% of its waste. Chief Executive of WRAP, Jennie Price said: “Local authorities have been working hard to boost awareness and to make it much easier for us to recycle. Nearly 80% of England’s households now have doorstep recycling schemes – now we all need to make sure we use them.”

Defra has also announced that all local authorities will have to maintain and improve their recycling levels. A consultation on new statutory standards is due to be published shortly.

However, Friends of the Earth has called on the government to grant councils new powers to charge householders according to the amount of waste they produce.

The group said that this ‘variable rate’, which they say is common in countries with high rates of recycling, could replace council tax, meaning that good recyclers could save money, while those who generate an excessive amount of waste would be charged more.

FOE said that councils would have to ensure that the rates were fair by providing good doorstep recycling and composting services, raising public awareness through education campaigns and helping households on low incomes.

The group said that a recent survey of councils found that many would be keen to set up the schemes, if they were given the power to do so.

Georgina Bloomfield, Recycling Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: “Most people in the UK pay a fixed rate for waste management in their council and this means there is no economic incentive for them to reduce their waste or to recycle and compost. If we are serious about tackling waste then we need to give councils the power to do so.

“Such schemes are common in Europe and have dramatically reduced waste and improved recycling rates.”

(KMcA/SP)