Scrap Recycling Forum

I believe with you from the information and my experience

I will have to agree. Recycling goes way back up to prehistoric era. I think, cavemen knew how to recycle.

At present world is facing a similar crisis as 1970's, inflation, rising fuel prices, global warming. So each and every country in the world should adopt several recycling methods in order to avoid global shortage. A new era in recycling should begin.

1947 - The Town and Country Planning Act gives authorities planning powers over new waste management sites, but most of the existing tips cannot be controlled.

During the post-war years, economics are against incineration, hence the domination of landfill in British waste disposal practice. Landfills are constructed at the most convenient cost and locations, with little thought of their environmental impact or consequences such as water pollution and methane gas. Contemporary consumer society evolves with the increase in production and consumption, as products are designed to be thrown away and packaging increases. Increased consumption inevitably generates an increase in manufacturing, industry, mining and quarrying, agricultural and food processing wastes.

However, the post-war period sees not only some effects from the boosted salvage industry stimulated by the demand for raw materials during the wars, but also increasing public awareness of the environment.

1956 - The Clean Air Act is passed signalling a decrease in the number of open fires in homes as they are replaced by central heating fuelled by oil, gas or electricity. Consequently the composition of household waste changes from being predominantly ash, dust and cinder from fires, to being made up of other wastes such as food and paper which would previously have been put on the fire.

1960 - A working party set up by the Duke of Edinburgh criticises the existing management of the countryside and the environment, especially waste management. Its recommendations lead to the setting up of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.

1960s - Private waste contractors begin to take over in what had previously been considered a public works activity. In 1968, contractors come together to form the National Association of Waste Disposal Contractors.

1970s - It takes a combination of increased new chemical waste, changing waste compositions after clean air legislation, and new health and safety guidelines to bring about the first serious waste regulations during the 1970s. This is also linked to concerns over energy use and the wider depletion of resources.

1971 - Some drums of cyanide waste are dumped at an abandoned brick kiln near Nuneaton, leading to a huge public outcry. The ensuing furore, along with press coverage of waste disposal drivers taking bribes to dump hazardous waste illegally, and a report by the Royal Commission on toxic wastes, provides a catalyst for the first ever legislation to control hazardous waste. The consequent Deposit of Poisonous Waste Act 1972 is drafted in 10 days and passed through Parliament within a month.

Friends of the Earth launch their first campaign by returning thousands of bottles to Schweppes, an environmental stunt which successfully uses the media in bringing issues of waste and product disposability to public attention.

1974 - Increasing concern over waste leads to the Control of Pollution Act 1974 which aims for a much wider control of waste disposal and regulation of sites, and begins a serious tightening up of waste disposal methods.

1977 - The first bottle banks appear in Britain

1980s - The decade sees increasing public concern over waste disposal especially hazardous waste. The construction boom results in an estimated 1 million tonnes of illegally deposited waste lying around London at any one time. Those who produce the waste have no responsibility for it. Directives from the European Union begin to put pressure on the British government, and there are contentious issues such as the import of wastes, contaminated land and inadequate powers of waste regulators. The increasing number of private sector contractors in waste management begin to challenge the enforcements and self-regulation of the local authorities.

1986 - Environmental protection finally gets included in the Treaty of Rome through the Single European Act.

1987 - The National Council for Voluntary Organisations sets up a project called Waste Watch to promote and support waste reduction, reuse and recycling. Over fifteen years later, Waste Watch is an independent national charity working alongside local authorities, community and voluntary groups, businesses, industry and Government, providing advice, training and information from the Wasteline, as well as practical support for action.

1989 - The Commons Environment Committee inquiry, chaired by Sir Hugh Rossi, recommends that waste regulation pass from local authorities to a central body.

1990 - The Government produces "This Common Inheritance", its first comprehensive White Paper on the Environment. This sets out a waste strategy which regards waste minimisation and recycling as priorities, and sets a target of 25% for the recycling of household waste by 2000.

The subsequent Environmental Protection Act 1990 separates waste regulation from operational work in local authorities and implements more regulations and controls. It replaces the 1974 Act with a new licensing system covering all controlled wastes (certain household, commercial and industrial wastes) and requires local authorities to consider recycling in their waste strategies.

1992 - The Duty of Care is introduced, whereby anyone who "imports, produces, carries, keeps, treats or disposes of controlled waste" must take responsibility for it. Those who deal with waste are now given a duty to care for it, managing waste from its generation through to transfer and disposal.

The Eco-labelling scheme is set up to recognise relative environmental impacts of similar products.

1994 - An EU Directive introduces the idea of producer responsibility with regard to packaging waste requiring member states to set targets on the reduction and recovery of packaging waste. This was followed by the UK's Producer Responsibility Obligations Section 93 (Packaging Waste) Regulations.

1995 - The Environment Act establishes the Environment Agency, replacing the National Rivers Authority, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution, Waste Regulation Authorities and some parts of the Department of the Environment. As a central body its aim is to manage and regulate not only waste but also industrial pollution and water resources.

1996 - The Government publishes its waste strategy for England and Wales, entitled "Making Waste Work". This document sets out plans for sustainable management of waste, and also confirms the target of 25% of household waste to be recycled by the year 2000.

The landfill tax is introduced, which levies £7 per tonne on active waste going to landfill in order to encourage alternatives such as reuse and recycling, and promote waste minimisation. The standard rate will increase to £10/t from 1 April 1999, with a lower rate for inactive waste frozen at £2/t. Inert waste used in the restoration of landfill sites and quarries will be exempt from 1 October 1999.

1997 - The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) were implemented, requiring businesses to recover and recycle 38% of their packaging, increasing to 56% by 2001. There are also additional recycling targets to enforce a minimum percentage of recycling for each of the packaging materials (currently paper and card, plastics, aluminium, steel and glass). The obligations are shared between raw material manufacturers, converters, packers and fillers, and sellers.

1999 - The Government releases "A Way with Waste", a draft waste strategy for England and Wales updating "Making Waste Work". The national waste strategy for Scotland is also launched, with specific goals for reducing special and industrial waste arisings. In the 1999 budget the landfill tax is placed on an "landfill escalator" of £1 per year until 2004.

2000 - A finalised waste strategy for England and Wales - "Waste Strategy 2000" - is published, setting revised national targets for the recycling or composting of household waste: 25% by 2005, 30% by 2010, and 33% by 2015. The "Waste Management Strategy for Northern Ireland" is launched, setting targets for household waste similar to "Waste Strategy 2000".

2002 - The EU Regulation on Ozone Depleting substances comes into force. Under this Regulation any insulation foam or cooling circuits containing CFCs or HCFCs must be recovered from fridges and freezers prior to shredding and disposal.

Waste Not Want Not, the Strategy Unit's report on Waste Strategy 2000, is published.

2003 - The budget raises the landfill tax escalator to £3 per year from 2005.

The WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Directive) is implemented. England will have to collect 4kg of WEEE from every household by 2006.