Burning policy puts pressure on recycling targets
A boom in incinerator-building could make it impossible for the UK to meet future targets for recycling, a report says.The consultancy Eunomia says waste companies constructing new incinerators will need waste to feed them.And that could reduce Britain’s stated ambition to recycle more waste.A government spokesman said "great progress" had been made in boosting recycling rates.But Eunomia’s report says current trends in building incinerators will make a mockery of the ambition of Environment Secretary Michael Gove to achieve a “green Brexit”.Recycling successSince 2009/10, it says, the UK has more than doubled its capacity for burning what is known as residual waste – what is left over after recycling.Capacity to burn it has risen from 6.3 million tonnes to 13.5 million tonnes.But over the...