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Britain bottom of the heap for recycling

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27 August 2006

The UK is at the bottom of Europe’s recycling heap along with Greece and Portugal, according to a new report from the Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr) and Green Alliance to be published this autumn. The report will recommend that local authorities are given powers to charge a ‘pay-as-you-throw’ fee for collecting un-recyclable rubbish.

England is only just going to meet the 2005 household waste recycling target of 25 per cent originally set in 2000. The report shows that the worst three local authorities in England for recycling are Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Liverpool.

The report, to be published ahead of the Local Government White Paper and the new Waste Strategy, will argue that ‘pay as you throw’ is the best way to meet current recycling targets and move towards a target of zero waste. The report highlights examples from Europe including countries like Germany where some local areas charge around 18 pence per kilo for waste not recycled, boosting collection of recyclable materials to more than 65 per cent.

To ensure any new scheme is fair, the report will also recommend that local authorities remove the rubbish collection fee from council tax.

Nick Pearce, Director of ippr, said:

"The UK is bottom of the heap in Europe when it comes to recycling. The Government should give local authorities powers to charge for collecting non-recyclable waste. Our European neighbours have shown that where charges are common place, recycling rates will rise. But to make sure any new charging scheme for rubbish collection is fair, it needs be accompanied by a reduction in council tax and an improvement in recycling facilities."

Julie Hill, Green Alliance Associate, said:

"There are few better routes to higher recycling than through giving householders financial incentives. They are a proven, positive and logical way of changing our throwaway society."

Municipal waste management in the European Union

Country	Recycled/compostedand other (per cent of total)	Landfill(per cent of total)	Incineration(per cent oftotal)	Waste per capita (kg)
Netherlands	65	3	32	624
Austria	59	31	10	627
Germany	58	20	22	600
Belgium	52	13	35	469
Sweden	41	14	45	464
Denmark	41	5	54	696
Luxembourg	36	23	41	668
Spain	35	59	6	662
Ireland	31	69	0	869
Italy	29	62	9	538
Finland	28	63	9	455
France	28	38	34	567
UK	18	74	8	600
Greece	8	92	0	433
Portugal	3	75	22	434

The figures for municipal waste management in the European Union are taken from 2003/4 statistics as they are the most recent comparable figures. Waste is a devolved issue in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Top ten recycling authorities in England

NAME	Recycling and Composting rate 2004/05 (%)
St Edmundsbury	50.64
Forest Heath	48.59
South Cambridgeshire	46.80
Lichfield	46.35
Harborough	46.00
Rushcliffe	46.00
Daventry	45.05
Cherwell	43.40
Vale Royal	40.00
North Kesteven	39.43

Bottom ten recycling authorities in England

NAME	Recycling and Composting rate 2004/05 (%)
Trafford	10.47
Knowsley	10.39
Sunderland	10.34
Lewisham	10.20
Middlesbrough	10.16
Wirral	9.93
High Peak	9.82
Liverpool	7.63
Tower Hamlets	7.35
Newham	6.23

Regional household recycling rates 2003/04 to 2004/05

England and Regions		percentage
Region	2003/04	2004/05
East	23.4	29.4
South West	21.4	26.6
East Midlands	19.3	26.5
South East	22.8	26.2
North West	14.2	19.0
West Midlands	15.7	19.7
Yorkshire and the Humber	14.5	18.6
London	13.3	17.5
North East	12.2	15.3
England	17.8	22.5

Notes to editors:

A zero waste UK was commissioned by ippr from Green Alliance and written by Julie Hill, Ben Shaw and Hannah Hislop. It will be published in the autumn.

Zero waste refers to zero waste to landfill and maximum recycling.

Contacts:

Matt Jackson 020 7339 0007 / 07753 719 289 / m.jackson@ippr.org

Richard Darlington 020 7470 6177 / 07738 320 645 / r.darlington@ippr.org