A recent study found that over thirty percent of all council tax in Wales and England is spent on the handling of rubbish. England and Wales spent approximately four and a half billion pounds between 2007 and 2008 just dealing with the removal and disposal of household waste. This amounts to one pound out of every three council tax pounds being spent on rubbish alone. Industry insiders as well as anti-waste campaigners are saying that these numbers indicate that it is time for the United Kingdom to get serious about finding ways to reduce waste.
Anti-waste campaigners are claiming that these numbers are a strong indication that there is a problem with the system and that further change needs to be made to reduce waste. While council tax money in the amount of four and a half billion pounds has been spent on removing waste, only forty three million pounds have been spent on working with individuals and businesses to produce less waste.
The study also showed some alarming results when it comes to landfills. Currently, the United Kingdom is putting nearly sixty percent of all rubbish into landfills. Landfills can be particularly damaging to the environment, because as organic compounds break down, methane seeps into the ground. This methane gas is far more harmful than carbon when released into the atmosphere.
Anti-waste protestors are saying that more needs to be done to encourage businesses and individual households to reduce waste. Things like reduction of junk mail, and recycling food can lead to less rubbish being put into landfills.
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