Speaking to journalists at a briefing in London, the Minister said he was looking for local authorities to effectively achieve a doubling of recycling by 2003/04 to an average national figure of about 17%.
He revealed that the latest Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs figure for recycling across England stands at about 12-13% for 2002. Mr Meacher was optimistic that there are positive signs of an increase in recycling activity. “There is a rising curve and there is a momentum in the figures. Local authorities are beginning to act. I do think you will find next year that there is a very significant uplift.”
He gave Oldham as an example of good progress, in contrast to critical comments he has expressed about the authority in the past.
“Oldham is a good example. I was worried about Oldham but now it has reached 5% and only a year ago it was almost nothing. The government has given money – Oldham is one of those authorities that received a grant and they think they can achieve their target.”
The minister said that there was a very good chance of trebling recycling levels nationally to reach the 2005/06 target. This was more likely to be achieved that the doubling expected by 2003/04. He was using a base figure of about 8% for the end of the 1990s.
The government is aiming for an overall recycling rate of about 17% by 2003 with a rate of at least 25% by 2005.
Action plan
The minister said that he had received replies from almost all the 142 low performing local authorities to which he had written to last year. “We are still analysing them to get the full picture. We will then be demanding an action plan from them where the evidence shows they are falling behind. We can insist they get management advice.”
This advice to low recycling authorities will come from one of three sources, said Mr Meacher. These are the private sector, the Waste and Resources Action Programme and “other local authorities nearby who have a much better record.”
Signalling that councils are unlikely to get much extra money for recycling, he emphasised that local authorities have been given enough funds. After listing the variety of funding elements given towards recycling and sustainable waste management, Mr Meacher said: “I would insist that the funding of this is adequate, indeed more than adequate.” And he pointed to the additional help being given to local authorities by the work of WRAP in finding markets for the materials collected.
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The minister asked for examples of good practice from local authorities providing recycling for high rise flats. “We have a serious problem here and
we need to stop people just putting all their rubbish down the chute.”
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