MEPs vote for more rubbish recycling in the East Midlands

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 18th Jun 2008

MEPs say more recycling is needed.

Our local councils will have to aim higher in a bid to raise recycling rates for household rubbish.

MEPs have reached an agreement with Europe's 27 environment ministers to set a target of recycling 50% of household waste by 2020, and of 70% for industrial and commercial wastes. Governments that fail to introduce the necessary measures could face multi-million pound fines.

As much as 33% of household rubbish produced in Britain is now being recycled.

Bill Newton Dunn, Liberal Democrat MEP for the East Midlands, claims that EU environment legislation has played a major role in raising ambitions.

He said: "Britain's record on recycling was very poor until ministers took action to avoid falling foul of the EU Landfill Directive. Now we are making better use of resources and thus, reducing the global warming gases emitted which are from landfill sites."

However, Bill Newton Dunn expressed disappointment that governments across Europe will have another six years in which to draw up plans to reduce the growing size of their waste mountains.

"Reducing waste is a matter of political will," he said. "Some major supermarkets in the UK have pledged to reduce the waste they create by 25% over the next four years. Governments could ensure that all businesses aim to do the same."

The new law gives weight to the principle that recycling should be given priority over incineration when dealing with waste, but the latter will be permitted so long as energy is recovered from the material that is burned.

A study carried out by environmental charity Friends of The Earth showed that the 50% household recycling rate across Europe could save emissions equivalent to taking 31 million cars off the road.