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Commenting on today's publication of the English Waste Strategy, Friends of the Earth's senior waste campaigner, Dr Michael Warhurst said:

?David Miliband's waste strategy is a step forward. The Government's renewed commitment to recycling and composting is very welcome - particularly the promotion of weekly food waste collections and the proposal to give councils the opportunity to reward those who recycle more.

?We are also pleased that the Government realises that the best way to generate 100 per cent renewable energy from waste is by putting food waste into anaerobic digestion - not resource-wasting, climate-damaging incinerators.

?But, we are very disappointed that the Government has set a recycling target of just 50 percent by 2020 - tackling climate change requires more ambitious targets. The Government's own analysis has shown that a rate of 60% by 2020 would be much better for the climate. Cambridgeshire County Council already recycles over half its waste, and across the channel in Flanders they recycle nearly three quarters, and we believe that the UK should be aiming for 75% recycling by 2015.?