10% of our economy is…rubbish!

4.00.00pm GMT Fri 3rd Nov 2006

Local MP, Tim Farron today secured a frightening admission from the Government during a meeting of the Environmental Audit Committee. When probing officials on environmental policy, Tim Farron was told that £1.7 billion tonnes of un-recycled waste is generated in each year - this equates to 10% of all the resources produced in the UK.

Tim Farron said:

"In the same week that the sobering 'Stern Report' was released, we have discovered that a tenth of everything that goes through our economy is non-recycled rubbish.

"It is great to see that in South Lakeland we are taking the lead in recycling. However, the main problem is that the Government has been reluctant to invest in recycling for businesses.

80% of waste produced in South Lakeland is produced by businesses, and Tim Farron has called on the Government to give local councils the power to take the lead on commercial recycling as well as domestic recycling.