The UK government is preparing to announce new plans to address the country's poor recycling rates and reduce its reliance on landfill sites, according to Environment Minister Ben Bradshaw. The government is considering various incentive schemes for residents, including financial rewards. The upcoming Waste Strategy, to be presented by Environment Secretary David Miliband, will detail how the government intends to comply with strict EU regulations on reducing landfill waste in England. A government consultation paper last year suggested increasing household waste recycling and composting from 27 percent to 40 percent by 2010 and 50 percent by 2020. Data from the Institute for Public Policy Research and the Green Alliance shows that Britain ranks low in Europe for recycling, trailing only Greece and Portugal in terms of lower recycling rates. Campaigners are urging the government to implement progressive charges for waste collection in order to incentivize households to recycle more. A recent consultation revealed strong public support for variable charging, although there are worries that increased costs could result in more fly-tipping. According to Bradshaw, it is crucial for the government to boost recycling rates and decrease reliance on landfill, as it poses environmental risks. He emphasized the importance of recycling materials and generating energy, while also highlighting the negative effects of methane production. Despite this, the minister believes that collection schedules should still be managed by local authorities. Some councils have upset many residents by changing to fortnightly waste collections. Friends of the Earth believes that businesses should be required to meet recycling targets. They also oppose government plans to build more incinerators, as they produce more harmful carbon dioxide than gas-fired power stations.