Government forgets NI in new recycling law

Friends of the Earth has reacted with dismay to news that draft legislation to dramatically improve recycling, will not include Northern Ireland.

The Household Waste Recycling Bill, sponsored by Joan Ruddock MP, calls for every home to be provided with doorstep recycling for at least two materials by 2010. Due to massive support from MPs, councils, organisations, companies and individuals across the UK, the Bill has an excellent chance of becoming law by the end of this parliamentary session. But the Government has not included Northern Ireland or Wales.

While the Northern Ireland Assembly is suspended, Parliament is the only body that can require the services called for in the Bill in Northern Ireland. If passed, citizens in England would be provided with a household collection of recycling but those in either Wales or Northern Ireland would not be guaranteed a similar service.

Adequate funding for any demands made by the Bill has been promised by central Government, it would, if extended to Northern Ireland and Wales, offer local authorities a clear opportunity to reach recycling targets which they are currently a very long way off meeting.

Julie Morgan MP has tabled a parliamentary petition (EDM 1461) [1] calling for the inclusion of Wales and Northern Ireland in the Bill. This motion has support from MPs from England, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as from all parties. MPs who have signed the motion include Roy Beggs, David Burnside, Lady Hermon and Martin Smyth.

John Woods, Director (NI) of Friends of the Earth, said, "We would very much like to see Northern Ireland included in the Bill and are calling on the Government to remedy this situation as soon as possible. It is important to allow everyone in Northern Ireland an equal opportunity to recycle - the same opportunity afforded to those in England ”.

For more information please contact John Woods on 028 9023 3636.