The government will miss European targets for recycling waste by a mile, according to Friends of the Earth.

The green pressure group said the failure to meet mandatory European targets was revealed in an unpublished government report obtained by the Environmental Data Services' ENDS Report.

The UK is currently recycling just 12 per cent of household waste - one of the lowest rates in Europe.

Forum Response: Biffa Waste Services

Phil Conran, recycling manager at Biffa Waste Services, told ePolitix.com: "We would certainly agree that there is a lack of forward looking cohesive strategy from the government with the three key government departments of DEFRA, DTI and the Treasury all seemingly following their own agendas. The difficulties created by this are exacerbated by the increasing rate of legislation demanding coherent policies, clear guidance and consistent and meaningful enforcement.

"However, we are also concerned that green pressure groups want to have their cake and eat it. Environmentally effective waste strategy will need a combination of disposal options to achieve the maximum reduction of dependence on landfill, options that will need to put the risks related to all the options into perspective without the narrow minded attitudes that are often purveyed by the pressure groups.

"We would urge government to form a central waste policy unit that can bring all interests together and ensure local and national government have a workable structure to deliver the targets.

"The PIU's report will obviously be of great interest and we hope that it will take account of the real practicalities of environmental waste management and not just be a 'spin' document that tries to avoid the governments central funding responsibilities. Environmental good practice costs money, but those costs will be minimised through long term, cohesive and enforced planning."

Forum Response: Envirowise

Dr Martin Gibson, director of Envirowise, told ePolitix.com: "People usually do things when there is a clear benefit. The amount of waste from households is rising partly because few individuals understand how they benefit from reducing the amount of waste they produce. The same does not hold true for companies.

"More and more companies are finding that improved efficiency can reduce the amount of waste they produce in the first place, helping the environment and saving money."If more companies and individuals looked at how they can avoid producing waste in the first place, rather than just recycling it, we would all be better off."