Householders need to recycle half their rubbish by 2020

OLDHAM Council will have to aim higher in a bid to raise recycling rates for household rubbish.

MEPs have reached an agreement with Europe’s environment ministers to set a target of recycling 50 per cent of household waste by 2020, and of 70 per cent for industrial and commercial wastes.

Governments which fail to introduce the necessary measures could face multi-million pound fines.

As much as 33 per cent of household rubbish produced in Britain is now being recycled.

Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies claims that EU environment legislation has played a major role in raising ambitions.

He said: “Britain’s record on recycling was abysmal until ministers took action to avoid falling foul of the EU Landfill Directive.”

But he expressed disappointment that governments across Europe will have another six years to draw up plans to reduce the growing size of their waste mountains.

He added: “Reducing waste is a matter of political will. Some major supermarkets in the UK have pledged to reduce the waste they create by 25 per cent over the next four years.

“Governments could ensure that all businesses aim to do the same.

“The new law gives weight to the principle that recycling should be given priority over incineration, but the latter will be permitted so long as energy is recovered from the material that is burned.”