Condemned: The councils that are rubbish at recycling

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Doorstep recycling collections are woefully inadequate, a consumer group has warned.

Although pressure on the public to recycle is mounting, research by Which? found that many councils are failing to provide the necessary facilities.

Some authorities have said the only way to encourage recycling is to start fortnightly collections. There have even been threats that those who fail to recycle will incur bigger council tax bills.

But according to Which?, about 70 per cent of us have no doorstep collection for plastic packaging, which could be recycled rather than being dumped at landfill.

And 70 per cent have no doorstep system to recycle drinks cartons, Tetra Paks and similar products.

More than 40 per cent have no service for collecting plastic and glass bottles.

In some European countries food waste is recycled for animal feed or to produce power. But about 60 per cent of Britons have no access to such a service.

Neil Fowler, editor of Which? magazine, said: "While some councils are undoubtedly winning their war on waste and recycling around half of everything thrown out by households, others recycle only one tenth of their rubbish.

"We are still lagging well behind countries such as Austria and Germany, which boast national recycling rates of more than 50 per cent."

Which? said it is more environmentally effective for councils to provide doorstep collections than for individuals to take waste recycling centres.

"One dustcart produces far fewer carbon emissions than multiple cars going to recycling tips."

Mr Fowler added: "Recycling is a cornerstone in the fight against climate change, but councils need to do more to make it as easy as possible to recycle on our doorsteps - or the net effect will be drastically reduced as people either get in their cars to drive to their local tip or don't recycle at all."

A recent investigation by a Sunday newspaper found that even when the public supports recycling schemes, some councils fail to handle it properly.

Many councils insist that residents put paper, bottles and plastic into a single recycling bin.

The authorities or their agents, are then supposed to sort it before sending it for recycling.

But the investigation found that the sorting method is so haphazard that some waste is not properly separated.

Recycling companies say they are receiving tons of materials from councils which are so contaminated or badly sorted that they have to be rejected or dumped at landfill sites.

Dick Searle, chief executive of the Packaging Federation, said: "The recycling infrastructure in this country is disgraceful.

"We've got a situation where the collection methods - particularly where householders are being told to chuck everything in together - mean we are now seriously in danger of recycling going backwards."

However, the Local Government Association said the problems of recycling and waste should be laid at the foot of retailers and manufacturers, rather than councils.

Paul Bettison, chairman of the Association's environment board, said: "Householders take home a staggering amount of packaging every time they go shopping.

"It makes up a fifth of all household rubbish.

"Manufacturers and supermarkets need to cut needless packaging and then start working with local authorities to produce essential packaging which can either be reused, recycled or composted.

"Councils are on the frontline in the fight against climate change and are working hard to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill."

Which? argues that going green benefits the bank balance as well as the climate.

It said planning food purchases carefully can reduce food waste by up to £400 a year, while insulating walls and lofts cuts CO2 emissions by 40 per cent and can save £250 a year on heating.

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