DETR reports England and Wales household recycling rate of 10.3%

The new figure, which is for the financial year 1999/2000, shows an increase of 1.5% on 1998/99. Figures for earlier years differ slightly as metal from incinerator ash is now excluded under Best Value rules.

The increase in household waste recycling was also matched by an increase in the broader category of municipal waste recycling – which includes non-household recycling. In 1999/2000 this reached a recycling/composting rate of 11%, compared to 9% in 1998/1999.

Arisings up 4-5%
The higher recycling rates comes as the amount of waste generated continues to rise and the data suggests an increase of about 4-5% in municipal waste for 1999/2000, or 1 kg per week per household with an average of 26 kg per week per household. Total municipal waste arisings were 29.3 million tonnes in England and Wales in 1999/2000, up from 27.9 million tonnes the previous years. In both years, about 90% of municipal waste came from household sources.

The Department notes that although there has been a slight increase in the absolute amount of municipal waste being disposed of to landfill since 1998/99, the percentage of waste being disposed of in this way has decreased by one percentage point to 81%. The amount incinerated with energy recovery has remained constant at 8% and overall, 5.5 million tonnes or 19% of municipal waste was either recycled, composted or recovered for energy compared with 17% in 1998/99.

Regional data
Across England and Wales the South East had the highest recycling rate at 16% with the East and South West of England both close behind at 15%. Lower rates are to be found in North East England at 6% and a similar amount in Wales. North West England reported 7%, Yorkshire and The Humber 8%, East Midlands 11%, West Midlands 10% and London 9%.

Incineration with energy recovery is used for 31% of municipal waste in the West Midlands, 17% of waste in the North East of England, 19% in London with low or zero rates elsewhere.

Links:

The summary figures for the 1999/2000 Municipal Waste Management Survey together with results from earlier surveys are available on the DETR web site at DETR data The latest data is available on the site in an Excel spreadsheet.