Under European Union Guidelines, countries have to halve levels of biodegradable waste disposed in landfill sites by 2013 from their 1995 levels.

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He said the plan would include proposals to ban certain materials, like biodegradable waste, from landfill and recover the energy from these materials.

BBC: Zero Waste Plan debate

Even biodegradable waste can be potentially hazardous in a landfill environment.

CNN: All about plastic

Results varied with Newport council sending 15, 882 tonnes of biodegradable waste to landfill in the six months to March 2005, nearly two thirds of its allowance.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Wales | Council landfill waste reduction

We need to look backwards to the future and get rid of non-biodegradable waste products - responsibility lies at the door of manufacturers not just at the population.

BBC: Overflowing bin

The new figures come just weeks after figures showed that all 22 councils in Wales had met targets on the amount of biodegradable waste they could send to landfill sites.

BBC: Recycling figures show increase

The government signed up to a European Union directive, and by 2020 the amount of biodegradable waste - the stuff that rots - going to landfill, will have to be cut back by millions of tons a year.

BBC

They decided to give it to Desso Aviation, a carpet company with a zero-waste, 100% biodegradable approach known as "cradle-to-cradle".

CNN: From seat backs to handbags: How airlines recycle

Some communities are ecologically friendly: they use solar power and green methods of waste removal, undertaking the daunting challenge of hauling non-biodegradable items off the mountain via pack animals as opposed to burning or burying trash.

BBC: Everest's growing problem