UK: Asda calls government to act on recycling

By: just-food.com | 20 May 2008

Asda, the UK arm of Wal-Mart, has called on the government to ensure local authorities provide equal recycling services as it voiced opposition to the so-called "pay-as-you-throw" bin tax proposals.

Asda said that research it commissioned has found millions of people find it difficult to recycle Asda's packaging, even though 92% of it is made from recyclable materials.

The range of materials collected by local authorities varies considerably, depending on the postcode.

Paul Kelly, corporate affairs director at Asda, said: "Our customers tell us that they are becoming increasingly frustrated by how difficult it is to recycle the packaging we give them. That's why we're calling for an end to the recycling postcode lottery.

"Despite nearly all of our packaging being recyclable, very few local authorities are able to collect it all, which means thousands of tonnes of packaging needlessly end up in landfill, when it could have easily been put to better use."

Asda has argued that the EU's landfill directive is flawed because it is based on the weight of rubbish sent to landfill, meaning light materials such as plastics are often ignored even though they account for more than 55% of total packaging waste.

"If you are unlucky enough to live somewhere where plastic or cardboard, or even glass bottles, are not collected by your council, your dustbin is going to be much fuller, much quicker - and weigh more too," Kelly said. "That's why we also strongly oppose the 'pay as you throw' bin tax. Until there is a consistent, nationwide approach to recycling, any form of bin tax would be unfair and unjust."

Sectors: Retail, Sustainability & the environment

Companies: Asda, Wal-Mart