´óÏó´«Ã½

Eye on Wales investigates claims from environmental campaigners that local authorities are over-stating the amount of biodegradeable waste they divert away from landfill.

A complaint to the European Commission from recycling umbrella group Cylch alleges that material sent for recycling by councils is routinely being sent to landfill because of contamination.

The group says when that happens, it is not reported back and taken into consideration by councils when they provide official data for how much waste they divert from landfill.

Councils are expected to meet a 40 per cent recycling target by the end of March this year. By 2012, that target will rise to 52 per cent; by 2025 it is likely to be 70 per cent.

Failure to reach those stiff targets will result in local authorities being fined, which could in turn lead to rises in council tax levels and cuts in services.

Presenter Peter Johnson goes on the trail of our domestic waste recycling and visits a paper recycling mill at Shotton on Deeside to see the contamination levels it encounters.

And he hears from campaigners calling for new legislation to force local councils to track what happens to this waste, further down the supply chain, to ensure a more accurate picture.

The programme also explores how one local authority is tackling the waste challenge by signing up to a controversial 25-year contract with a private company.