The UK government is preparing to announce measures on Thursday to address the country's low recycling rates and decrease its reliance on environmentally harmful landfill sites, according to Environment Minister Ben Bradshaw. Bradshaw mentioned that the government is considering various positive incentive programs for citizens, including financial rewards. The upcoming Waste Strategy, to be presented by Environment Secretary David Miliband, will detail how the government intends to adhere to stringent European Union regulations regarding reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills in England. A government proposal from last year suggested raising the recycling and composting rate of household waste from 27 percent to 40 percent by 2010 and 50 percent by 2020. Recent data from the Institute for Public Policy Research and the Green Alliance shows that Britain ranks poorly in terms of recycling compared to other European countries, with only Greece and Portugal recycling less. Campaigners are calling for the government to implement increasing charges for rubbish collections in order to promote more recycling among households. A recent consultation revealed strong public support for some form of variable charging, although there were concerns that higher costs could result in an increase in fly-tipping. According to Bradshaw, it is crucial for the government to boost recycling rates and decrease reliance on landfill, which has serious environmental consequences. He emphasized the importance of not wasting materials that could be recycled or converted into energy, as well as the harmful methane emissions produced by landfills. Despite this, Bradshaw believes that collection schedules should continue to be managed by local authorities. Some councils have angered residents by changing to fortnightly waste collections. Friends of the Earth believes there should be mandatory recycling targets for businesses and opposes the government's plan to build more incinerators, stating that they produce more carbon dioxide than gas-fired power stations.