Call for recycling regulation after ITV exposes dumping scandal

The LGA wants a clear, accountable and transparent system so residents will continue to have confidence in the system and continue to recycle their waste.

It has written to every council leader in England and Wales to stress the importance of having detailed information about where recycled items are sold.

The Tonight programme, broadcast last night, tracked down supposedly recycled mail addressed to residents living in Tendring, Wellingborough and Wakefield District Councils and Leicestershire County Council.

The four local authorities collect mingled recyclables and send them to a sorting facility which will sell them on to be recycled in factories or mills. The authorities said they worked with licensed UK contractors and would be investigating further.

The programme claimed that 46 local authorities have no idea what happens to their waste after it is sent to contracted sorting facilities.

The LGA’s Paul Bettison told the programme: “Certainly from the indications that we have a local authority should be attempting to find out what happens to their recyclates and simply knowing that you’ve sent them to the sorting facility does not guarantee that it’s then going to be recycled.”

Andy Moore, co-ordinator of the Community Recycling Network, said that local authorities have a duty of care to know where their recyclable waste is going and to ensure that is actually being recycled.

“Local authorities clearly have a duty of care to advise their householders as to what to put into the recycling and what not, and householders clearly have a duty of care to put the right things in, but local authorities also have a duty of care to the householders to make sure that the material they have so carefully separated is actually being recycled,” he added.

The Environment Agency told the programme it would investigate its findings and take action if necessary.

To see the programme click here.

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