Should the UK be doing more to encourage recycling?

Lately in accordance with the EU Waste Framework Directive, the UK is required to meet an EU target of recycling a minimum of 50% (by weight) of its household waste by 2020. Recycling rates have increased markedly since 2000 but concerns have been raised in recent years that household recycling rates have started to plateau. Actually the UK Waste policy is devolved. This note discusses trends and policy in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. UK has a number of recycling industry associations including British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA), Textile Recycling Association (TRA), Oil Recycling Association (ORA), the Industry Council for Electronic Equipment Recycling (ICER), The Organics Recycling Group (ORG), The United Kingdom Cartridge Remanufacturers Association (UKCRA), The Environmental Services Association (ESA), British Plastics Federation (BPF) etc. The BMRA represents 340 UK metal recycling businesses involved in the £5.6 billion UK metal recycling industry. BPF, established in 1933, has more than 400 members across plastics recycling industry including plastics processors, recyclers, and end users.