MP Pike welcomes new law to force rubbish recycling

His comments came as the new Household Waste Recycling Bill passed through Parliament, placing a duty on all England's local authorities to collect waste for recycling from homes.

New legislation will mean the local council's current voluntary participation in the recycling collection scheme in borough will become a statutory duty by 2010, by which time all local authorities will be required to collect at least two types of waste.

Mr Pike said Burnley was already well ahead of the legislation. But he stressed that people needed to play their part.

He said: "Burnley Borough Council has been gearing up to increase recycling of waste materials for some time and last year their recycling went up by four per cent in a national survey rating recycling.

"Clearly this will improve as households get into the routine of collecting different waste materials and separating waste from recycling.

"In Burnley I think we have a pretty straightforward recycling scheme which I am sure, over time, can continue to be simplified. Some local authorities are now able to collect all recycling - from plastic and glass bottles, through to paper and card in one sack - while others are still using three or four sacks for different recycling materials. I do believe, if we want to be serious about recycling, one sack for all really must be the way forward. I am aware that there have been isolated problems with the recycling scheme in Burnley. I would urge people who are having problems to ensure their local councillors or I am aware of these problems as we are committed to ensuring this scheme works.

"In the UK we are still way behind other European countries in our recycling habits. It is difficult to get into the routine of not just putting everything in the bin but once you have got into the habit of separating rubbish it really does become second nature.

"By 2010 we will all have to be in the habit so I really do urge Burnley people to get into the habit today."