The value of second-hand plastic has risen so rapidly that mining operations to dig it out of rubbish dumps are forecast to begin within the decade.
Waste suitable for recycling is already being dug out of landfill sites in the United States and it is thought that commodity prices are on the verge of making it a profitable option in Britain.
Landfill sites from the 1980s onwards would be the first to be considered for mining because there are good records of what is in them, including the location of hazardous materials such as asbestos, and because before then plastic was discarded in much lower quantities.
The forecast comes after The Times reported yesterday that the prices of recycled materials, including plastic, paper and metal cans, had increased greatly over the past six years. What was once considered to be mere rubbish is now providing recycling companies with a valuable source of income, but many local authorities have missed out on the green bonanza because they are locked into disposal contracts that run for between 20 and 30 years.