The Local Government Association (LGA) has called on central government to increase investment in waste recycling initiatives to help councils recycle more.
Currently, most householders across the UK are able to recycle common dry recyclables such as tin cans, glass bottles and waste paper, but more materials could be recycled, says the LGA, with more investment in recycling infrastructure.
According to the LGA, in 2012/13, councils generated £198 million from the estimated seven million tonnes of recyclable material collected from households. But, the association argues, this could be extended by a further £1 billion between now and 2020 if there is improved quantity of recycling streams and quality of material collected.
One way the government could help achieve this, the LGA says, is by reinvesting the proceeds of landfill tax into waste infrastructure.
Councillor Clyde Loakes, Vice-Chair of the LGA's Environment and Housing Board, explained: "Landfill tax was introduced to encourage us all to recycle more but it's clearly served its purpose. Rather than penalising the public, we have been urging the government to use the Spending Round as an opportunity to cap the landfill levy and reinvest the money to develop the growth of the UK's booming waste economy.
"Because the country lacks the necessary waste and recycling infrastructure, the type of material each council can recycle in order to generate revenue varies massively from one to the next. But with extra investment we could start to really deal with this and help everyone across the country recycle more. People can check their council website to see what they can recycle in their area."
Marking the 10th annual National Recycling Week, the LGA has released a list of 10 ‘common but previously unrecyclable’ household items, which it hopes more councils will be able to recycle over the next decade, with the help of council-run intiatives.
Some of the materials included in the list are: cooking oil, which can be turned into bio-diesel or motor oil; paint, which can be re-used or remixed; mattresses, which can be separated into cotton, nylon, metal and foam components and recycled into other products; and disposable nappies, of which UK householders reportedly throw away about eight million a day.
The future of nappy recycling in the UK has taken a blow recently, following the sudden closure of the Knowaste plant in West Bromwhich, the UK's only plant to recycle nappies. A new facility to host the recycling plant has yet to be identified.
According to the lastest figures, in 2011/12, the UK recycled 43 per cent of household waste, compared to 13 per cent in 2001/2. During this decade, the amount of tin cans, glass bottles and waste paper recycled in the UK also more than tripled.
Read the LGA’s Wealth from Waste.
Read the LGA’s ‘Wealth from Waste’ review.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.