The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for a crackdown on "irresponsible firms who refuse to reveal where they are selling recycled materials".

Currently, waste management firms have a duty of care to ensure responsible handling of waste. However, they are accused of ‘hiding behind commercial confidentiality’ in refusing to release the details of their waste practices.

In an open letter to the Environment Agency (EA) the LGA Environment Chair, Councillor Paul Bettison, calls for: "thoughts on how exporting companies could be encouraged to reassure their clients of the destination of materials sent abroad for recycling," and how waste disposal authorities might work more closely with the EA to identify unco-operative companies. Mr Bettison calls on council leaders, in a parallel letter, to review the destination of their council’s recyclates and reassure residents of the difference made by their recycling efforts.

For more information please visit the Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group via:

www.policyconnect.org.uk/environment