UK opposes new EU waste recycling targets in leaked paper

Tory government dismisses proposals for binding new EU goals to cut waste and improve recycling, setting it on a collision course with Brussels

The UK has rubbished the idea of Europe setting new targets for recycling, despite warnings from the EU's environment commissioner that such measures should be non-negotiable.

Goals for recycling household waste are expected to give teeth to an upcoming EU 'circular economy' package, but a paper on the UK's position, seen by the Guardian, argues that any new targets should be put on ice.