The price of used plastic and paper has plummeted in the last few months because of the recession, with the latest figures showing paper is down 40 per cent and the value of plastic bottles is down by more than half.

The state of the market means it is more important than ever to ensure recycled material is of high quality.

London politicians endorsed a provincial proposal to make manufacturers responsible for the costs of recycling, a shift that could save local taxpayers as much as £2.1 million a year.

Industry currently pays between 40 per cent and 50 per cent of blue box programs, but many recyclables never get in the blue box and get sent to landfills instead with taxpayers footing the bill, Stanford said.

The public must have confidence that recycling makes a difference. But the Government’s whole approach to waste is flawed.