Around a fifth of councils say that their recycling costs have increased due to China’s restrictions on imports of some materials.
A poll by the Local Government Association found that some councils are reporting an increase in costs of up to £500,000.
The fee charged to councils to process materials collected from kerbside collection at a materials recovery facility (MRF) is said to have increased from £15 to £22 per tonne over the last year.
Cllr Martin Tett, LGA environment spokesman, said: “It is clear that the ban by China on imported waste, which could soon be implemented from [sic] other countries, could have a marked impact on councils’ ability to recycle.
“It is essential that the government provide support to help councils offset the loss of income they face as a result of the ban and encourage manufacturers to use more recyclable materials.”
