"The latest figures are very clear and encouraging. We are recycling more and landfilling less – two things which help to reduce emissions that cause climate change"
Liz Goodwin, Chief Executive of WRAP
Banbury, Oxon, England: The latest municipal waste management statistics issued by Defra (Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs) have been welcomed by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) as giving a clear and positive indication that recycling trends are increasing in tandem with reductions in the amount of household waste ending up in landfill.
The figures showed that English local authorities overall, broke the 30% barrier for recycling and composting of household waste for the first time.
Progressive increase in this statistic is important to ensure that the contribution of England to the nations recycling total - which includes Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also – is sufficient to help move the UK towards targets for diversion of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) from landfill required under the EU Landfill Directive. In addition English statutory recycling and composting targets set by the UK Government, need to be met.
Liz Goodwin, WRAP's Chief Executive
Defra’s figures are complemented by research undertaken by WRAP as part of its Recycle Now and Home Composting campaigns. New figures show that 64% of adults in England now consider themselves to be committed recyclers – up from the figure of 61% published in May 2007. The home composting campaign has sold 1.66 million compost bins since the campaign began in 2004 with around 74% going to people taking up composting for the first time, according to WRAP.
In addition to recycling and market development, WRAP says that waste minimisation is the other major challenge facing the organisation as waste collected from households increased by 1.6% to 25.9 million tonnes in 2006-07. The organisation expected the trend considering the twin effects of on-going UK population increase and the expansion of single person households.
'Love Food Hate Waste'
A major new campaign from WRAP is that aimed at reducing food waste called 'Love Food Hate Waste'.
'Love Food, Hate Waste' is a consumer facing campaign to encourage behavioural change. WRAP is working with the UK grocery sector, food industry, Government and organisations such as the Food Standards Agency to develop practical solutions and improved communications to make it easier for consumers to get the most from the food they buy and waste less of it.
WRAP's aim is to reduce consumer food waste by 100,000 tonnes by March 2008 and new targets are currently being drawn up to take us into 2011.
Liz Goodwin, Chief Executive of WRAP said:
“The latest figures are very clear and encouraging. We are recycling more and landfilling less – two things which help to reduce emissions that cause climate change. The steady and substantial increase in recycling reflects the continued and growing support for recycling by householders, increased availability of facilities which make it easier for people to recycle, investment by the reprocessing sector and the growth in markets for recycled materials and products. This is a tribute to everyone involved – the public, local authorities, government and businesses.”
“While we’re on track to meet the 40% target in 2010 there’s still lots to do and it is important we all continue to work together to maintain the positive progress. We still need more people recycling more things more often, to get non-participants into the habit as well encouraging those already doing a little to do a little bit more.”
Ms Goodwin concluded:
“The work to develop collection services, the reprocessing sector and end markets, all of which is underpinned by behavioural change and increased awareness of the benefits of recycling and waste minimisation, is paying off and has to be sustained in order to bring about long term, lasting improvements.”
Further information
Further information on Municipal Waste Management Statistics 2006/07 can be found on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/071106a.htm .
WRAP works in partnership to encourage and enable businesses and consumers to be more efficient in their use of materials and recycle more things more often. This helps to minimise landfill, reduce carbon emissions and improve our environment. Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by substantial Government funding from Defra and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
More information on all of WRAP's programmes can be found on www.wrap.org.uk