Waste in the UK
The UK faces major challenges if we are to manage our waste sustainably. This is important, not just as part of our commitment to sustainable production and consumption, but is also a vital part in our battle against dangerous climate change.
Recycling in the UK already saves the equivalent in greenhouse gas emissions of taking 3.5 million cars off our roads. That is because virgin materials that would otherwise be used in production are conserved and the waste recycled is not being sent to landfill. Landfill is the worst environmental option for much of the waste produced in this country. The methane it produces is a potent greenhouse gas – 21 times more potent than CO2.
So recycling is not just a “nice idea” - anyone who claims to be serious about climate change should support efforts to increase recycling.
We are doing much better than in the past. In 1997 only 7% of England’s household waste was recycled. It has almost quadrupled to 27% - a tremendous achievement by the public and local authorities. Major improvements have also been made elsewhere in the UK. But we are still a long way behind many of our European neighbours, who recycle well over half their municipal waste. Some of the leading local authorities here are approaching 50%, but there is huge discrepancy in local authority performance, with the worst still only recycling in single percentage figures.
Also, the Landfill Tax escalator, our main fiscal measure encouraging diversion from landfill, means it is becoming more and more expensive to send waste to landfill.
This is the context in which the stories about “chips in bins”, alternate weekly collections (AWCs) and differential charging for waste disposal need to be seen.
One of the ways we have increased recycling levels is by making it easier for people. 94% of households now receive a doorstep or kerbside collection service from their local council for recyclable materials. There has been a 50% expansion in kerbside recycling services in just one year. Just over one third of local authorities have moved to AWCs for recyclables and non-recyclables. They have not been encouraged to do so by the Government. However, the Government-funded Waste Resource and Action Programme (WRAP) did issue guidelines two years ago aimed at those local authorities that were planning to adopt AWCs.
The evidence suggests that AWCs can help improve recycling rates. Of the 20 top performing councils for recycling in England, 16 have AWCs. Independent, Defra funded, research found no evidence of health impacts from AWCs. Properly designed and implemented they should not cause problems of odour or other nuisance.
A small number of authorities have also chosen, when replacing their wheelie bins, to buy bins with the potential to carry microchips. This technology is simple and is widely used in other European countries and in North America where householders are charged for the amount of non recyclable waste they produce. In this country the technology has only been used to help local authorities collect data so they can measure the success or otherwise of their recycling schemes. The technology would have the potential to be used for differential charging, but no decision to allow local authorities to introduce this has been taken. Evidence from other countries shows that differential charging can boost recycling and reduce waste overall. The Local Government Association has requested the freedom to adopt schemes here. No decision on this has been made. Sir Michael Lyons addressed differential charging in his interim report on the future of local government funding and his final report is expected in December.
The Government recently completed a full public consultation on a new waste strategy that we aim to launch in the New Year. This not only looked at where we will need to be in 15 to 20 years time, but also at how we can get there.
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Page last modified:
27 September 2007
Page published: 3 November 2006