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Britain now 'dustbin of Europe' UK 'landfill dustbin of Europe'
(1 day later)
Britain is officially the "dustbin of Europe", new figures have suggested. The UK is the "dustbin of Europe", according to a new study.
The UK dumps more household waste into landfill than any other country in the European Union, research by the Local Government Association (LGA) shows. The UK dumps more household waste into landfill than any other country in the European Union, research by the Local Government Association shows.
Households sent more than 22.6 million tonnes of rubbish to landfill in the most recent year in which comparable figures were available across the EU. UK households sent 22.6 million tonnes of rubbish to landfill in 2004/5 - the most recent year for which comparable figures are available across the EU.
Council leaders warn that an area the size of Warwick - 109 square miles - is already used as landfill. However, government figures for 2006/7 show households recycled record amounts and levels of landfill waste fell.
The LGA, which represents councils in England, warns that if the current trend continues it is estimated the country will run out of landfill space in less than nine years' time. Between 2005/6 and 2006/7, the proportion of household waste which was recycled or composted rose from 27.1% to 30.7%, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Bold reforms And the amount being sent to landfill fell from 17.9 million tonnes to 16.9 million tonnes.
The figures show Britain sent the same amount of rubbish to landfill as the 18 EU countries with the lowest landfill rates combined, despite their having almost twice the population. The LGA said that indications were that other European countries had also cut their landfill amounts since 2005, leaving the UK still "at the top of the rubbish heap".
The countries with the highest amount of household rubbish thrown into landfill each year are the UK, with around 22.6 million tonnes, Italy at 17.6 million tonnes and Spain, which throws away around 14.2 million tonnes. The UK came top in 2004/5 for overall amount of rubbish dumped, but third behind Bulgaria and the Irish Republic when the amount per head of population was calculated.
France sends around 12 million tonnes to landfill, while Poland dumps around 8.6 million tonnes. The LGA warned that an area of 109 square miles was already used as landfill in the UK.
Local government leaders say bold reforms are needed otherwise recycling rates will not rise fast enough to meet the EU Landfill Directive. The association, which represents councils in England, said that if the current trend continued, the UK could run out of landfill space in under nine years.
Councils, and consequently the taxpayer, are facing fines of up to £150 per tonne of rubbish that is sent to landfill sites. The figures for 2004/5 show the UK sent the same amount of rubbish to landfill as the 18 EU countries with the lowest landfill rates combined, despite those countries having almost twice the population.
Paul Bettison, chairman of the LGA environment board, said: "For decades people have been used to being able to throw their rubbish away without worrying about the consequences. Those days are now over. The other countries with the highest amount of household rubbish thrown into landfill were Italy at 17.6 million tonnes and Spain at 14.2m.
"There needs to be an urgent and radical overhaul of the way in which rubbish is thrown away. France sent around 12 million tonnes to landfill, Poland 8.6m and Germany 7.3m.
The LGA said bold reforms on rubbish disposal were needed otherwise recycling rates will not rise fast enough to meet the EU Landfill Directive.
The directive sets the UK a number of targets, including that by 2020 the amount of biodegradable municipal waste, including household rubbish, sent to landfill should be no more than 35% of the amount produced in 1995.
For decades people have been used to being able to throw their rubbish away without worrying about the consequences. Those days are now over Paul BettisonLocal Government Association Recycling around Europe
In the future, councils, and consequently the taxpayer, are facing fines of up to £150 per tonne of rubbish over their "allowance" that is sent to landfill sites.
Paul Bettison, chairman of the LGA's environment board, said: "For decades people have been used to being able to throw their rubbish away without worrying about the consequences. Those days are now over.
"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.""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."
He said it was encouraging to see that people were recycling more, but added: "The fact remains other countries on the continent are still recycling up to twice as much."
A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs acknowledged the need to do more.
It said: "We still lag behind much of Europe and we cannot afford to be complacent. We need to keep raising our performance if we are to meet future challenging landfill targets."