25 January 2011

EU praises and singles out UK recycling efforts
The European Commission has praised the UK for the substantial increase seen in municipal recycling levels over the last decade.

In the commission's latest report on recycling and waste, the UK was singled out as having overseen a "rapid increase" in the amount of waste being reused since 2000, LetsRecycle.com reports.

Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands remain the countries with the best recycling record, with more than 70 per cent of waste avoiding landfill.

However, the report also warns that efforts to recycle appear to be "levelling off" among the top countries.

Commenting on the report, environment commissioner Janez Potocnik told the website that the EU is serious about pushing the recycling agenda.

"This is not just about reducing negative environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions, it will also create jobs; in the waste and recycling sector alone half a million jobs could be created," he said.

The government's Waste and Resources Action Programme was recently boosted by the news that the EU has approved a 50 million support plan for the recycling industry.

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