Environment

The government has confirmed it will launch a consultation this autumn on higher targets for packaging recycling.

The consultation from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will build on proposals initially outlined in the Waste Strategy for England, published in May.

To meet its obligations under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, the UK has a business recovery target of 70% in 2008 to meet the Packaging Directive target of 60%.

Material-specific targets are 60% for paper and glass, 50% for metals, 22.5% for plastic and 15% for wood.

The Waste Strategy also put strong emphasis on reducing household waste, and an Ipsos Mori survey today (22 August) revealed that two out of three Britons would support a system that financially rewarded the recycling of household waste.

The poll of 1,028 people, commissioned by the Local Government Association, found that 64% favoured a 'pay-as-you-throw' household rubbish collection system in which they would pay lower council tax and be charged for how much rubbish they put out for collection, with recyclers paying less.

Paul Bettison, chair of the LGA's environment board, said: "If councils introduce save-as-you-throw schemes, it will be to promote recycling, not to generate extra cash through an extra stealth tax.

"There is now strong public support for schemes that reward people for recycling, and councils should be given the power to introduce these where it is appropriate."

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LGA PROPOSALS
The LGA has set out three possible household waste schemes for England and Wales in its response to Defra's consultation on financial incentives for recycling, which closed last week.
• Households to buy different-sized pre-paid sacks for general waste, similar to garden waste disposal schemes
• Wheelie-bins to be fitted with computer chips, allowing them to be weighed as they are loaded onto refuse trucks.
• Households to choose the size of their wheelie-bin and be charged accordingly.