Government waste response too little too late

8.44.32pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 4th Jun 2007

Chris Huhne MEP inspects Uttlesford's highly successful recycling scheme which was brought in by the Liberal Democrats

Commenting on the publication of the Government's waste strategy for England last week, Uttlesford's new Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Peter Wilcock said:

"This is too little and too late. The Government's 50 per cent recycling target for 2020 does not even match the best current standards in Europe such as Germany's 58 per cent and the Netherlands' 65 per cent. In Uttlesford under Liberal Democrat control we were already seeing up to 57% recycling since the new wheeled bin system was introduced with much better recycling rates being forecast for the months and years to come".

" Britain has the third worst recycling rate in the EU, and ministers are still far too unambitious. We need a right to return excessive packaging at retailers, trials of a plastic bag charge plus more prosecutions for excessive waste and fly-tipping"

"We oppose new waste tax powers for local councils, but would welcome schemes which give rebates on council tax for residents who recycle. We don't need 'pay as you throw', but councils should be able to give 'rebates as you recycle".