In 2008/9 there was an increase in the national household recycling rate to
37.6% (34.5% in 2007/8) and less municipal waste was sent to landfill,
decreasing from 15.5 in 2007/8 to 13.8 million tonnes in 2008/9.
Total municipal waste decreased by 1.2 million tonnes, or 4.1%, from 28.5
million tonnes in 2007/8 to 27.3 million tonnes in 2008/09. A
decrease in total household waste was also observed, from 25.3 to 24.3
million tonnes.
The average residual household waste per head decreased from 324kg per head
in 2007/8 to 295 kg per head in 2008/9.
(data source: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK is committed to reducing the amount of biodegradable municipal waste
in landfill sites, in accordance with European Directives.
We all need to put waste to good use, through re-using items, recycling,
composting, and using waste as a fuel. We also need to choose
products made from recycled materials and we should move away from sending
waste to landfill sites to more sustainable waste management options.
The Government's vision for sustainable waste management is set out in the
Waste Strategy for England 2007 (published on 24 May 2007). A prime
objective is to decouple waste growth (in all sectors) from economic growth
and put more emphasis on waste prevention and re-use.
Government Offices bring together key regional stakeholders, influencing
what they do to meet the Government's waste strategy and interpreting and
explaining the Government's policies. They work with Local
Authorities who may have difficulty in meeting recycle targets.
Government Offices also have a key role through the planning system in
identifying sites. More widely, Government Offices engage with
partners to encourage business to be more resource efficient.
