England reaches 34.5% household recycling rate

The rate at which household waste recycling rates in England are growing has fallen for the first time in three years, according to statistics published by Defra today (November 6). 

These figures show many local authorities taking a real lead and I congratulate them

 
Jane Kennedy

Data from the government's WasteDataFlow database shows that recycling rates reached 34.5% in 2007-08 – up 3.6% from 30.9% in 2006-07 – as opposed to the 4.2% increases seen over the two previous years.

The results are likely to be viewed by some in the recycling sector as a sign that some of the “quick wins” in recycling have already been won.

However, the figures also show that over 90% of councils are meeting or exceeding their recycling targets, with East Lindsey district council in Lincolnshire singled out for particular praise after rocketing to the top of the recycling league table.

As predicted by letsrecycle.com in August (see letsrecycle.com story), the council overtook neighbouring council and former champion North Kesteven to achieve a significant 58.4% recycling rate between April 2007 and March 2008.

And, the council was also the most improved authority, improving its recycling rate by a dramatic 21%, from just 36.67% in 2006-07 (see table below).

In second place in the recycling league table was South Hams district council in Devon (57.07%), followed by North Kesteven (55.94%) in Lincolnshire, Teignbridge district council in Devon (55.58%) and Huntingdonshire district council in Cambridgeshire (55.14%).

In sixth place was Uttlesford district council in Essex (54.5%) – which improved recycling by 12% in a year – South Cambridgeshire district council (53.21%), Staffordshire Moorlands district council (52.87%) which improved by 18% since 2006/07, Rushcliffe borough council (52.38%) and South Shropshire district council (52.06%).

After East Lindsey, Wirral metropolitan borough council showed the greatest improvement in its recycling rate, from 14% in 2006-07 to 32% in 2007-08.

Meanwhile, Hyndburn borough council in the North West achieved the lowest household waste arisings per head – at just 293kg. The largest decrease in household waste collected per head was North Cornwall district council – a reduction of 13.6%.

Welcome 

Other key results announced today included that 90% of local authorities collected less residual waste in 2007-08 compared to 2006-07, and 94% recycled and composted more of their waste.

Welcoming the figures, environment minister Jane Kennedy said: “Putting local councils in the driving seat is delivering results. The Government remains committed to supporting local authorities in continuing this revolution in recycling.

“Seeing 90% of local authorities meet or exceed their recycling targets is an important achievement. These figures show many local authorities taking a real lead and I congratulate them.”

LGA 

However, Ms Kennedy stressed that “we need to keep this momentum going as we can always do more” – a sentiment which was echoed by councilllor Paul Bettison, chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA) Environment Board.

Cllr Bettison said: “While recycling rates are moving in the right direction, there is a need to do more. Britain is still the dustbin of Europe, throwing more waste into landfill than any other country in the EU. It is pleasing to see our recycling rates increasing, but other countries on the continent are still recycling almost twice as much.

“Councils and council tax payers are still facing fines of up to £3 billion if we do not dramatically reduce the amount of waste thrown into landfill. It is vital we look at alternative ways to continue to improve recycling and escape these fines,” he added.

Other results from the Defra figures include:

• A decrease in the amount of waste collected from households by 1.9% in 2007-08, from 25.8 million tonnes in 2006-07 to 25.3 million tonnes.

• A decrease in the amount of residual household waste from 17.9 million tonnes to 16.6 million tonnes (by 7%), putting the UK on track for the Waste Strategy target to reduce this to 15.8 million tonnes by 2010;

• A decrease in the amount of municipal waste to landfill from 16.9 to 15.5 million tonnes (or 54% of total municipal waste); and

• A decrease in the total amount of municipal waste collected from 29.1 to 28.5 million tonnes (by 2.2%).