'Burn It' Policy Slammed

5.56.50pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 24th Apr 2003

Lib Dems locally and nationally are calling for less incineration and landfill and real efforts to boost recycling and waste minimisation.

Guildford Lib Dem MP Sue Doughty has criticised the Government as it pushes local councils towards incinerators instead of recycling. Across the country local councils are seeking to burn rather than recycle waste, with Brighton amongst the local authorities looking at the development of a new incinerator.

In a report published today by the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, Waste - An Audit, the Government is strongly criticised for inadequate funding and inaction on recycling and waste minimisation.

Lib Dems in Brighton and Lewes are opposing plans for an incinerator locally, and are pushing instead for doorstep recycling and waste minimisation strategies. Lib Dem controlled Lewes have recently introduced kerbside recycling with residents backing to improve recycling rates.

Sue Doughty MP, Liberal Democrat Member of the Environmental Audit Committee, said:

"The Government's waste strategy is pushing local councils towards incineration. Without clear action to support waste minimisation and recycling, our waste will be redirected from landfills straight into incinerator furnaces. The Government's waste strategy is going up in smoke."

"Last year the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit published a series of recommendations to improve recycling and waste minimisation rates. Government promises of a response on funding and implementation around the time of the budget have come to nothing."

"Without urgent improvements, the Government will fail to meet even its modest targets for recycling and its legacy will be a new generation of incinerators."