Labour today reiterated the current government target of 35% recycling of household waste by 2015 and pledged “to work with all local authorities to introduce kerbside recycling schemes wherever appropriate”.
Labour also said “it is imperative that we use natural resources more efficiently and recycle more” and the party promised to develop environmental productivity indicators.
The Conservatives meanwhile have promised to abolish many of the national targets and plans imposed on councils if they are elected to office on June 7. But, a spokeswoman at Conservative central office told letsrecycle.com that recycling targets would be imposed on local authorities.
The Conservatives have not revealed their interim targets but are looking for the recycling and composting of 50% of household waste by 2020. The Conservatives also say every home in the country should have recyclables collected separately
from other waste and that local residents should be able to drop larger items of recyclable waste off at recycling centres. The party also proposes that there should be a nationwide
scheme to provide subsidised compost bins and water butts.
Tradable permits
The Conservatives and Labour are both in agreement that a tradable permit system for the disposal of household waste by landfill should be introduced. The government has already consulted on this.
The Conservatives have also promised to increase councils' resources for recycling and composting by reforming the landfill tax credit scheme. And the party has also said it will “review regulations to cut down on wasteful packaging and tackle
waste at its source.” And it wants the public sector to show businesses how recycled materials can be used without increasing costs.
The Labour manifesto was slammed by Friends of the Earth as “notably feeble” and it used the occasion to attack plans for new energy from waste plants. The pressure group commented on the 50% Conservative figure and the 35% Labour figure although it failed to notice that there was a five year difference in proposed timings.
Director Charles Secrett remarked: “Labour is stuck with its disastrous plans for new incinerators around Britain, because of its low target for recycling of only 35% (both the Tories and Liberals have set a target of 50%) and because it promises only a kerbside recycling scheme where appropriate rather than providing each household with a high quality, doorstep recycling service.”
FoE criticism of the Conservative Party on environmental issues has centred on the Tory plans for a cut in petrol tax.
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