Amid reports that thousands of tonnes of recyclable rubbish is being stock-piled in warehouses around the country, food producers are being urged to maintain their 'green agendas'.

The recession has hit the market for recyclable waste and some believe it is no longer viable to export waste materials to countries such as China, which reuse them when making new products and packaging, according to workplace equipment supplier, Slingsby.

However, with the standard rate of landfill tax set to rise from £32 per tonne to £40 per tonne next month, businesses that do not recycle will face significantly higher charges to dispose of rubbish in landfill sites.

Reducing the amount of waste that is placed in landfill sites also lowers the amount of methane and other gas emissions that landfill sites emit.

WRAP, the government recycling agency, reports that recycling in 2006 saved 18 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions - the equivalent of taking 5mn cars off the road.

Lee Wright, marketing director of Slingsby, said: “Negative press about recycling combined with pressures for food producers to reduce costs could lead to some companies choosing to cut back on, or completely abandon, their green credentials.

“However, because landfill tax is increasing, this is likely to be false economy and businesses in the food manufacturing and catering sectors that have significantly reduced their environmental impact in recent years should be continuing to build on this progress.

“Despite the short-term concerns, over a longer period of time there is no denying that recycling will be worthwhile and have a positive impact on the environment. It's also important to bear in mind that recycling programmes don't have to be over-complicated and can be very quick and easy to implement.”

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