Government should set zero waste target - Huhne

10.54.48am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 26th Jul 2006

Commenting on today's National Audit Office report which concludes that there is a significant risk that England will miss its EU target for reducing the amount of biodegradable waste sent to landfill, Liberal Democrat Shadow Environment Secretary, Chris Huhne MP said:

"It is five years since the Government's Waste Strategy was published, and while there has been some progress, household waste is still growing by 3% a year and we are still burying over 75% of our rubbish.

"The taxation system must be used much more intelligently to tackle the problem of waste management. Fiscal incentives should be tailored to motivate people to reuse and recycle materials. The Chancellor has had nine years to deliver and has failed."