The Local Government Association has ordered supermarkets to take ‘urgent action' to reduce excessive packaging or watch Britain fail to meet its recycling targets. Council leaders issued the warning after new research commissioned by the LGA revealed up to 40% of a regular household shopping basket could not be recycled. British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) Social Research found 5% of the total weight of shopping baskets was made up of packaging. ‘People are working hard to increase their recycling, but their efforts are being hamstrung by needlessly over-packaged products in supermarkets,' said Cllr Paul Bettison, chairman of the LGA's environment board. ‘We all have a responsibility to reduce the amount of waste being thrown into landfill, which is damaging the environment. ‘Councils and council taxpayers are facing fines of up to £3bn if we do not dramatically reduce the amount of waste thrown into landfill.' Cllr Bettison acknowledged many supermarkets were taking action, but more needed to be done. He encouraged councils to work with retailers to target consumers in shops.
