A zero waste society 'is possible'

An environmental analysis group has stated that the government could do more to reduce the amount of waste Britain produces.

James Murray, editor of BusinessGreen.com, has suggested that the coalition could achieve higher recycling targets in a bid to limit the amount of waste sent to landfill sites and improve the air quality of the environment.

He said: "The concept of a zero waste society is technically entirely feasible."

Mr Murray added that the UK could "be moving a bit faster than we are now" with regards to meeting recycling targets and reducing reliance on landfill sites.

His comments come after Friends of the Earth released a report last week, which suggested that the government did not have ambitious enough targets.

It stated that the aim to recycle 50 per cent of waste by 2020 could be improved.

Despite this, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed last month that there was a rise in the amount of waste households were recycling, increasing from a rate of 37.6 per cent between April 2008 and March 2009 to 39.3 per cent between January and December 2009.

Posted by Lauren Steadman