Councils could miss tough recycling targets

Local authorities have been told they must work harder to meet £40m government recycling targets.

Welsh Assembly Government targets state that councils must recycle 15% of household waste by March 2004, and 40% by 2010.

But research carried out in 2000-1 by the Audit Commission in Wales showed just three of the country's 22 councils - Conwy, Ceredigion and Powys - were on track to reach the first target.

But four councils - Denbighshire, Gwynedd, Monmouthshire and Merthyr Tydfil - were exposed as having no clear recyling plan.

In June 2001, Environment Minister Sue Essex gave the councils £34m of a £40m package designed to pull Wales up from the bottom of the European recycling league.

She expected they would need the cash to handle an ambitious increase in waste management.

Work needed

But the report published on Tuesday, shows just 15 councils had plans in place to achieve or exceed the targets in 2001.

It said that while most authorities had considered what they needed to do, staff shortages and inappropriate infrastructure had thwarted their plans.

Clive Grave, director-general of the Audit Commission in Wales said: "A number of councils have some way to go if they are to meet the targets," he said.

"Each authority must build on the recycling rates already achieved and ensure that a robust strategy is in place to support the achievement of these targets," he added.

But some councils were singled out for praise in the report - Torfaen's nappy laundering scheme was one of three highlighted.

Powys Council was also commended for bringing in community waste recycling advisers, and Anglesey council's review into waste collection was also mentioned.

Since the research was carried out, the four councils identified as having no clear plan have assured the commission that measures are now in place to meet the initial targets.