The government will miss European targets for recycling waste by a mile, according to Friends of the Earth.

The green pressure group said the failure to meet mandatory European targets was revealed in an unpublished government report obtained by the Environmental Data Services' ENDS Report.

The UK is currently recycling just 12 per cent of household waste - one of the lowest rates in Europe.

European directives mean that by 2020 Britain must ensure that two thirds of waste is diverted from landfill, or face fines of up to £500,000 a day.

If recycling rates continue to improve at the current rate of one per cent a year, the target will be missed by a mile, said FoE.

"This report shows that the government is making a mess of recycling," said FoE's Mike Childs.

"The government must make local authorities provide people with a decent recycling service and must provide them with the money to do so.

"If they fail to do this the UK will still be regarded as the dirty man of Europe."

The campaign group is calling for local councils to be forced by law to provide better recycling and composting services.

And FoE urged chancellor Gordon Brown to fund the £200 million it calculates is needed for a quality recycling service.

Increasing landfill taxes could provide the extra cash, said FoE.

Brown has already said he is considering increases in the landfill tax and the introduction of a new tax on incineration, but is waiting for the outcome of a review of waste strategy being conducted by the government's Performance and Innovation Unit.