UK recycling has doubled in a decade

The Environment Minister, Jane Kennedy, said that approximately 9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide did not enter the atmosphere because UK businesses recycled more than 6 million tons of waste last year, double the amount of ten years ago.

Britain recycled a higher tonnage in 2008 than called for in EU targets.

The EU requires 60 per cent of packaging and 55 percent of waste to be recycled.

The Minister said the UK is now is cutting back on the amount of waste going to landfill and efforts by packaging companies are very important for this.

Dr Paul Leinster, Environment Agency CEO, welcomed the achievement but pointed out that the Agency will continue with legal action with companies that do not stick to the recycling requirements.

He added recycling must continue and increase because of the CO2 reduction.

We can all be uplifted by what has been done and encouraged to increase our efforts, he commented.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) figures show that Britain complied with all the targets in metal, wood and glass as well as exceeding them in paper and packaging.

The country complied with the lowest figures for plastic recycling.

The Local Government Association discovered that just under half of common grocery items were packed in a way that prevented recycling and local councils are urging the government to take action on this situation.

Michael Warhurst of Friends of the Earth said the government must enforce higher targets on packaging from supermarkets.