The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee has said that the language used in the announcement yesterday (see letsrecycle.com story)
by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was “disappointing”, because many of the local authorities with the lowest targets are recycling much higher.
” We have five top ten for 2004/05 in that (20% target) list and it shows that we need to get the data out more quickly “
– Lee Marshall LARAC
When targets were originally set at the end of the last century the lowest performing councils were given targets of recycling 18% of their waste by 2005/06, no further targets were set.
It was announced this week that all recycling targets would remain stationary leading into 2007/08, with the exception of those with the lowest targets. The minimum recycling target in the UK for 2007/08 is now 20%.
A total of 143 councils are affected by the new target, although LARAC has pointed out that many of these local authorities will not be affected because they have already achieved the targets.
Top ten
In fact five of those local authorities – Vale Royal, Harborough, Cherwell, Tamworth and Rushcliffe – were all in the top ten recyclers in 2004/05. In total 28% of the 143 councils are already achieving the 20% rate, rendering the increase some what redundant.
Lee Marshall, chair of LARAC, said: “I understand if some of those authorities on the list will be unhappy with the tag. It doesn't hide the fact that there are still some authorities with low rates but to band all 143 together is not right.
“We have five top ten for 2004/05 in that list and it shows that we need to get the data out more quickly. I am sure when the 2005/06 rates come out that band of 143 will have been whittled down even further, we then need to better understand why the remaining authorities are having trouble succeeding. The announcement is of help and assistance from Defra on this is to be welcomed,” he added.
LARAC has also pointed out that the recent Waste Strategy Review indicated new higher targets would be out in place and that local authorities that took their foot off the gas may now find it difficult when the new targets come in after 2007/08.
The organisation has urged its members to continue to push for higher recycling rates although sufficient funding needs to be made available, said Mr Marshall.
June 1
Recycling targets will be under discussion at the letsrecycle.com/Live! event which is being held at the Royal Showground, Stoneleigh-Park, near Coventry on May 31-June 1.
On June 1 seminar on recycling targets will include presentations from Nicola Buck from Enfield and Phil Wright from Erewash and Mary Corin of Grosvenor Waste Management. Also on June 1, there will be another free seminar on packaging revenues with Lee Marshall as one of the guest speakers.
Subscribe for free