Time for 'Plan B' Sir Stuart?

It shows that up to 38 per cent of packaging in a regular household shopping basket cannot be recycled. The first survey, published in October 2007, put that figure at 40 per cent.

The British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) was commissioned by the LGA to buy a range of common food items from eight retailers. Analysis of the purchases found that local retailers and market traders produced less packaging and more that could be recycled than the larger supermarkets.

The supermarket with the heaviest packaging was Lidl (813 grams). Lidl and Marks & Spencer had the lowest level of packaging that could be recycled (62 per cent). Asda's packaging weighed least among the major supermarkets - 646 grams, 69 per cent of which was recyclable. Packaging weighed least of all in a local market - 617 grams - and 76 per cent of it was recyclable.

Most retailers have a lower weight of packaging than in the first survey - the average weight of packaging has reduced by five per cent - though the proportion that is recyclable has changed little.

Cllr Paul Bettison, Chairman of the LGA Environment Board, said: "The days of the cling film coconut must come to an end. We all have a responsibility to reduce the amount of waste being thrown into landfill, which is damaging the environment and contributing to climate change.

"Families will be pleased to see that more packaging in their shopping baskets can now be recycled. However, this survey shows there is still a lot further to go. Reducing packaging is vital if we are to avoid paying more landfill tax and EU fines, which could lead to cuts in frontline services and increases in council tax."