This is a devolved matter and, in Scotland, is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive. However, in England, good progress has been made towards the targets to improve rates of recycling and recovery set out in Waste Strategy 2000. The key targets were to recycle or compost at least 25 per cent. of household waste by 2005 and to recover value from 40 per cent. of municipal waste by the same date.
Figures for 2005-06 show that we exceeded the recycling and composting target, with 27 per cent. of household waste either recycled or composted in England. This is nearly four times the amount that was recycled or composted in 1997. In 2005-06, value was recovered from 37 per cent. of municipal waste.
Following consultation on a review of the Waste Strategy, we intend to build on these improvements and are planning to publish our revised Waste Strategy for England in May.