UK 'still has more to do on recycling'

07 November 2008

Councils are still facing massive fines over landfill waste despite an increase in recycling levels, the Local Government Association has warned.

Categories: Local government

Recycling rates are moving in the right direction, but councils still need to do more, the Local Government Association has stated (LGA).

Figures show that household recycling and composting rates have risen from 30.9 per cent in 2006-07 to 34.5 per cent in 2007-08, but Paul Bettison, chairman of the LGA Environment Board, warned the UK is still lagging behind the rest of the EU.

"Britain is still the dustbin of Europe, throwing more waste into landfill than any other country in the EU," he said.

While it is "pleasing" that recycling has increased, other countries on the continent recycle twice as much, Mr Bettison stated.

Local authorities and council tax payers face fines totalling £3 billion if landfill waste is not reduced.

For this reason new ways of improving recycling levels must be investigated, he added.

The LGA has also called for the law to be strengthened so councils can punish people who throw rubbish from cars.ADNFCR-1459-ID-18865314-ADNFCR

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