Association calls for less reliance on landfill sites

Alternative ways of dealing with waste must be considered before sending it to landfill sites, as disposing of it this way should only be viewed as a last resort, it has been urged.

The Local Government Association (LGA) of the UK has stated that councils should not use the decrease in the amount of recycling taking place in the country as an excuse to send more rubbish to landfill.

Due to a decline in the value of recyclable materials such as metal, paper and plastic, recycling companies are reported to be more reluctant to accept it at present.

However, chairman of the LGA's environment board Paul Bettinson has assured that this is a temporary development brought about by the current economic crisis.

He told BBC Radio 5Live that sending more waste to landfill will only equate to higher costs and an increase in council taxes in the future.

In other environmental news, the European Union last week introduced new greener guidelines for data centres, which the UK's minister for sustainable development Lord Hunt has urged them to follow.