The DEFRA has published the 2001-2002 Municipal Waste Management Survey report giving national and regional statistics for the management of UK waste.
A draft of the report was published by DEFRA on May 22, 2003 (see letsrecycle.com story). The full report has confirmed or slightly modified many of the statistics given in the draft copy.
The report confirms that kerbside collection schemes for recyclables expanded to cover 58% of households in 2001-02.
The report also shows that the volume of materials collected for recycling continues to increase annually. It says: “A total of 3.2 million tonnes (12.4 %) of household waste was collected for recycling in 2001-02, up from 2.8 million tonnes (11.2 %) in 2000-01. Since 1996-97 the amount of household waste recycled has nearly doubled.”
Paper and card has traditionally been the largest proportion of collected materials for recycling. The report explains that in 2001-02, this continued to be the case with 1.0 million tonnes collected, representing 31% of the total recyclables collected. However, in the same year 0.9 tonnes of green waste was collected for composting, or 30% of recyclable materials collected. In 1996-97, green waste represented 20% of municipal waste collected for recycling.
The report says: “In 1996-97 paper and card was the dominant material recycled with compost the third most collected material, in 2001-02 although paper and card was still the largest recycling component, there was nearly as much compost collected.”
In terms of regional variation in recycling rates the survey shows that the North-East had the lowest recycling rate of 5.2% and the South East had the highest at 17.7%. Individual authorities ranged up to 44% with most recycling 5 to15% of their household waste.
For a full copy of the 2001-2002 Municipal Waste Management Survey report, visit the DEFRA website.
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