Britain still topping Europe in use of landfills

Following new figures issued by Defra last week showing that English councils are now averaging a 30% recycling rate for household waste, the Local Government Association published research today showing the UK still filling more landfill space each year than the other 26 EU Member States.

Using the most recent comparable year available – 2005 – it showed the UK as sending 22.6 million tonnes of household waste to landfill.

The next worst countries were Italy, sending 17.6 million tonnes to landfill, Spain sending 14.2 million tonnes and France sends 12 million tonnes of household waste to landfill.

Germany, which has a population even greater than the UK, sent a third of the amount of household to landfill that Britain did.

Since 2005, England has reduced the amount of municipal waste going to landfill to 16.9 million tonnes, and this includes some trade waste as well as household material (see letsrecycle.com story). But the LGA argued that other countries have also been reducing their landfill use in that time, and that Britain is therefore still “at the top of the rubbish heap”.

The LGA, which has not been happy with the amount of money offered to councils by central governement to divert household waste from landfill, warned that “bold reforms” are needed to hit European landfill targets. It is calling for action from householders, shops, businesses and manufacturers to avoid potential £200 million fines for missing the targets.

It also wants to see “save as you throw” incentive schemes promoting household recyclign across the country.

“Mountain of rubbish”

Cllr Paul Bettison, Chairman of the LGA Environment Board, said: “There needs to be an urgent and radical overhaul of the way in which rubbish is thrown away. Local people, businesses and councils all have a vital role to play to protect our countryside before it becomes buried in a mountain of rubbish.”

Commenting on the figures, the LGA said the 18 best countries in Europe send less waste to landfill than the UK even when their totals are combined, and that those countries' combined populations are larger than the UK's.

The cross party organisation which represents local authorities in England is lobbying for councils across the country to be given the powers to start incentive schemes to promote recycling among householders.

Cllr Bettison explained: “The 'save-as-you-throw' powers should help to encourage people to take more responsibility for the way they throw their rubbish away. Councils want a power, not a duty, so authorities can decide what's best for their local areas. If councils introduce save-as-you-throw schemes, it will be to promote recycling, not to generate extra cash through an extra stealth tax.

“Councils are on the frontline in the fight against climate change and are working hard to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, but ultimately we must make sure less waste is produced in the first place,” he added.