How many bins is too many? In a time of public sector cuts, is it better to sort your own rubbish rather than paying more council tax for someone else to do it? How can the government encourage more recycling without alienating people? These were just some of the questions that the press were asking…
Category Archives: Government
Retail sector concerned about proposed WEEE regulations
The recent vote in European Parliament on the recast of the WEEE Directive will mean an increase of the target for collecting WEEE to 85 per cent by 2016. In order to reach this higher target the UK is going to have to find new ways to make WEEE recycling easier for consumers, and to…
10 per cent recycling increase in Guernsey
Guernsey’s household recycling figures for 2010 have just been released and show a significant increase. 12,122 tonnes of household waste was recycling during the year, up from 8,774 tonnes during 2009. However, the figures also revealed that the amount of household waste produced rose by 2,000 tonnes in the same period.. Public Services Deputy Minister…
Rubbish recycling tops 40 per cent
The latest figures from Defra show that across the UK we are now, on average, recycling more than 40 per cent of our rubbish. The figure was taken for the 12 months up to June 2010 and represents a 0.4 per cent rise in recycling. Environment minister, Lord Henley commented: “We’re producing less waste and…
WEEE Directive recast update
Proposals to introduce a new collection target for waste electronics have been endorsed by the European Parliament. If agreed, the new collection target would be set at 85 per cent. In addition to this the new agreement would make producers and retailers responsible for funding the collection of WEEE from households. The proposals now have…
Anglesey Council top of Welsh recycling league
The latest recycling rates for Welsh local authorities have been released and Anglesey has come out top. They were closely followed by Denbighshire Council. However, Bridgend Council achieved the most, increasing recycling rates from 33 per cent in September 2009 to 51 per cent last year. Anglesey and Denbighshire councils recycled around 57 per cent…
The best and worst recycling areas
A GMB Union study looking at recycling rates across the country’s local authorities has seen Staffordshire Morrlands District Council come out top. The best performing councils in the country are achieving 60 per cent plus recycling rates. But at the other end of the scale the authorities at the bottom of the table are only…
Recycling will save jobs claims union
A union has claimed that if councils sent less rubbish to landfill they would be able to save more jobs. The GMB Union has been highlighting the difference in recycling figures across the country. As an example they have compared South Warwickshire who performed very well and North Warwickshire who are amongst the worst recyclers…
Are fines the answer to household recycling?
This is the question that many cash-strapped councils are asking themselves as they decide how to increase recycling rates and avoid heavy landfill tax levies. Highland Council are one such local authority who are considering this move as they are committed to reducing rubbish over the next year. In September 2009 Highland Council stated that…
Bottle deposit scheme considered
Following research published by the Campaign for Real Recycling (CPRE) the Government is considering the introduction of a new bottle deposit and refund scheme for England. The report, entitled ‘Have we got the bottle’ was undertaken by consultant Eunomia and analyses the environmental and financial implications of introducing a UK deposit refund scheme for drinks…