"The (new) committee will have a more operational role than previously with the chairman also chairing task force meetings including, in particular, one looking at the interrelationship with local authorities," DEFRA said.

Britain is trailing the European environmental league tables, recycling an average of just 11.0 percent of household waste, well below the 49.7 percent achieved by Switzerland and Austria or the 48.0 percent recorded in Germany.

DEFRA said the new committee will be headed by John Turner, chief executive of UK recycling compliance organisation Valpak Ltd, which helps firms adhere to packaging waste regulations.

The group will also include representatives from across the packaging specturm, including Coca Cola , steel and aluminium producer Corus Group Plc , Rexam Glass - part of UK packager Rexam Plc , the world's biggest maker of drinks cans-and UK electrical retailer Dixons Group Plc .

The advisory committee on packaging was created in 1996 to advise the government on enforcing regulations implementing the EC directive on packaging and packaging waste.

Back in June this year, the government earmarked 140 million pounds ($217.5 million) for local authorities to boost recycling rates and bring the country in line with its better performing European counterparts.

In the last year, the UK has grappled to comply with tough new environmental legislation from the European Union aimed at cutting the amount of waste sent to landfill through raising recycling rates and requiring greater responsiblity from the manufacturers of anything from refrigerators, to mobile phones to motor vehicles.