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September 26 2002
CRN/AN/PR32 Summary of Residuals Report
New research published today has revealed that recycling rates of more than 60 per cent could be achieved in the UK within 10 years by the adoption of best practice from Europe. Mechanical and biological treatment of the residual waste to remove cans and other materials would boost this figure to more than 70 per cent. The UK currently only recycles 12 per cent of waste.
The research, conducted for the Community Recycling Network, and funded by Friends of the Earth and Biffaward, examines the best local authority recycling schemes currently operating in England, as well as best practice in Europe. The analysis also considers socio-economic factors that show that deprivation has a significant impact on participation in recycling and composting schemes.
Maximising Recycling Rates – Tackling Residuals shows that the adoption nationally of similar recycling services to those carried out by ten of the best performing local authorities would result in recycling rates of at least 30 per cent. The research also shows that it is possible that rates of 60 per cent can be achieved through increased participation, collection of new materials such as food waste, waste reduction, re-use and more recycling at civic amenity sites. These higher rates are already achieved in parts of Europe.
The report also assesses the environmental and health impacts for dealing with residual waste. Although the researchers were unable to suggest the best option for dealing with residual waste, they conclude that sending untreated waste to landfill or incineration are the worst options available.
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“Parts of Europe have recycling rates of 60 per cent or more and this is a level which we should be achieving here in the UK. But this can’t be attained through improved services alone. Policy changes need to be made as well as more money for resources and expertise training,” says Andy Moore, the CRN’s Coordinator.
“Sixty per cent of waste could be recycled by some local authorities very quickly,” says Mike Childs, senior campaigner at Friends of the Earth. “Although reaching this target nationally may take up to ten years. Ultimately we should aim for zero waste, but in the meantime we do need to deal with some residual waste. Friends of the Earth’s analysis of the research suggests that the best environmental route for residuals is mechanical and biological treatment with residuals from this process going to landfill.”
The researchers, Dominic Hogg and Dave Mansell, conclude: “UK waste management stands at a turning point. Which way it turns, and how quickly it turns depends upon the willingness of local authorities to prioritise waste as an issue and to respond to local opinion, and the will of policy makers to implement incentives which reflect a clear resource management perspective, and which seek to encourage households to participate in established recycling collections.”
ENDS
Notes for editors:
A summary of the report, Maximising Recycling Rates – Tackling Residuals, will be launched on October 4 at an event for local authorities, government policy makers, waste industry representatives. The full report will be available on the CRN website www.crn.org.uk after this date.
The Community Recycling Network is a national umbrella organisation for more than 300 community groups, co-operatives and not-for-profit businesses in the community waste sector. Its aim is to promote community-based recycling as the most effective way of tackling the UK’s growing waste problem. Its members have achieved some of the highest recycling rates in the UK and offer separated kerbside recycling to 1.6 million households – six per cent of the UK population.
The Community Recycling Network is based at Trelawny House, Surrey Street, Bristol, BS2 8PS, tel: (0117) 942 0142, fax: (0117) 908 0225, www.crn.org.uk.
For further information:
Andy Nelmes, Press Officer, (0117) 908 0415, andyn@crn.org.uk