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Farron calls on government to help councils to "step down landfill and step up recycling".
February 26, 2009 11:52 AM
Liberal Democrat environment spokesmen Tim Farron MP has responded to a warning from National Audit Office that the UK risks being fined millions of pounds if they continue to miss their EU landfill targets by calling on the Government to reallocate funds raised by landfill tax for local council recycling projects.
Up until recently, money raised through landfill tax had been returned to councils for investment in refuse and recycling facilities however; recent increases in landfill tax rates have unfairly penalised local councils and have prevented many from investing in better recycling facilities.
Speaking in the House of Commons today, Mr Farron expressed his concern that funds raised from the landfill tax are increasingly disappearing into the Treasury coffers and asked Minister Jane Kennedy to return the money raised through landfill tax to local authorities.
Commenting Mr Farron said:
"Many local communities are now leading the way in recycling practices and are showing the Government what can be achieved when councils are given proper funding.
"In South Lakeland we now recycle the majority of our household waste; but the recession has hit council's recycling budgets across the country and has made it increasingly difficult for them to continue with this vital work.
"At the same time, we have the appalling situation where the funds raised by the Government's landfill tax are simply being swallowed up into a Treasury black hole.
"If the Government is serious about it's commitment to recycling then they will make a commitment to reallocate funds raised by the landfill tax to local councils so that they can step down landfill and step up recycling".
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