Recycling rates must improve to meet EU standards
Wednesday, November 13, 2013 - 13:57:49
A new report from DEFRA has revealed that recycling in the UK is no longer expanding, which means that more needs to be done to help the nation live up to continental expectations.
In the 12 months between March of 2012 and 2013, recycling rates increased by just 0.2 per cent, according to the study, which means that there is still some way to go before the EU's 50 per cent goal is reached.
A 2020 deadline for achieving this level of recycling is in place at the moment, but the Daily Mail reports that families seem to have hit their limit in terms of what they are willing to do under the current system.
Local authorities have been working hard to make recycling collecting schemes more widely available, although only a fifth of councils across the country have hit the 50 per cent target already, with much more effort required to address the deficit.
Worryingly, there was actually a reduction in the amount of glass, cans, paper and card being recycled in the UK according to DEFRA figures, which is certainly an issue for the long term sustainability of relevant schemes.
Perhaps the problem is that this should be about more than just hitting targets, but instead about the kind of responsibility that people in the UK have for the environment in which they live.
Landfill sites only have so much capacity and by recycling products, we can help to reduce the carbon emissions of British industry and even get lower priced products because acquiring raw materials for their manufacture will be cheaper.
Councils are now expected to roll out new schemes to encourage people to separate out more of their rubbish for recycling, in an attempt to meet targets and look after the planet.
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