"We don't want recycling material going into landfill - it's not waste, it's a commodity and we want to find an outlet, " SITA's Mike Dobson said.

BBC: South West recycling goes abroad

But in the US, construction waste accounts for 50 per cent of all landfill material, according to the Construction Materials Recycling Association.

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Steve Burdis, from Dorset Waste Partnership, said it was "not in the interest" of any local authority to put recycling material back into landfill when costs are so high.

BBC: South West recycling goes abroad