The UK, has been slow to reduce it's reliance on landfills. That's officially recognised.

The following is an extract from a UK Government (Strategy Unit) report titled "Waste Not, Want Not: A strategy for tackling the waste problem", (November 2002).

"Most other European countries have a number of alternatives to landfill in place, as well as legislation and incentives to support these alternatives. Currently almost 80% of municipal waste in England is sent to landfill sites, compared with around 50% in France and 7% in Switzerland. England recycles just under 12% of its municipal waste, while Germany recycles 52% and the Netherlands 47%."

The full report is available here.