Archived press release

Draft waste strategy slammed: FOE says "recycle it and start again"

20 September 1999

Friends of the Earth slammed the Government's draft waste strategy today, for failing to address basic tests of sustainable development, and for putting the Government on a collision course with communities across the country.

Friends of the Earth is demanding that the Government abandon its support for incineration, and produce a strategy to solve the country's growing waste problems through recycling. This would create jobs, help tackle climate change and reduce pollution.Currently the UK only recycles 8 per cent of household waste, putting it at the bottom of the European league table.

Friends of the Earth is calling for:

*    A target to recycle household waste to match international best practice (the Netherlands recycles almost 60 per cent of its household waste).
*    Government funding for local authority recycling schemes, using money from an increased landfill tax and a new incineration tax.
*    A target to reduce the amount of toxic waste (special waste) produced.

Mike Childs, Senior Waste Campaigner, at Friends of the Earth said:

“ The Government is a million miles away from producing a waste strategy that will significantly improve the UK's poor performance on resource management.Even when there are new targets, there's no new money to ensure that they will be met. Frankly the draft waste strategy is rubbish, the Department of the Environment should recycle it and start again. If it doesn't it will face bitter struggles against new incinerators from communities up and down the country.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] FOE's response to the waste strategy is available from 020 7490 0237.

For further information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

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Archived press release

Draft waste strategy slammed: FOE says "recycle it and start again"

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