Officials from the Local Government Association (LGA) are ordering councils to keep track of their recycling to make sure it isn’t being dumped illegally outside the country. Leaders have said that there needs to be a “crackdown” on government funded companies who refuse to disclose the location where they send waste materials.
The order comes after a televised investigation regarding a case in which collected rubbish ended up on Indian farmland near the migration trail of wild elephants. The rubbish had been recycled by at least four British councils. ITV’s Tonight programme uncovered numerous examples of British waste, including mail which identified the councils as Wellingborough, Tendring, Leicestershire County Council, and Wakefield District Council. Other items found were newspapers, bags of Walkers crisps, Tesco packaging, and plastic bags from Mothercare.
The LGA, a government body which represents local authorities throughout England and Wales, has contacted to council leaders to urge them to procure detailed information about the companies they use and where said companies send recycled items. The LGA has also contacted the Environment Agency, often referred to as the recycling police, to pressurise contracted companies to be more forthcoming with the necessary information.
Recycling rates in the UK have increased dramatically, from 7% in 1997 to the current rate of 34%. Still, Britain is still responsible for sending more refuse to landfills than any other country in the European Union.
The Environment Agency has agreed to review the information and will take action if it is appropriate.
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