Packaging prominent in government waste strategy

“We need not only to recycle and reuse waste, but also prevent it in the first place,” he said.

However, the Local Government Association (LGA) criticised the strategy for “leaving vital questions unanswered”.

“The strategy depends on voluntary agreements to cut packaging and waste, but manufacturers and retailers should be under the same legal and financial pressures as councils,” said LGA chairman Sandy Bruce-Lockhart.

The government’s goal is for 40% of household waste to be recycled by 2010 – rising to 50% by 2020. Several options, such as separate food waste collection, are being looked at to achieve this.

Possible schemes for carrier bag taxes and charging for household waste collection, which would give more power to local authorities, are also under consideration.

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