Wales hits 52% recycling target

Wales reached its first statutory recycling target of 52% in the year running from April 2012 and March 2013, the latest provisional figures indicate.

Furthermore, the latest quarterly figures for January to March 2013 show that Wales recycled 50% of its waste a slight increase on the figures for the same period in 2012.

During this same quarter in 2013, the amount of household municipal waste produced by Welsh householders also decreased by 4% compared to the previous year. Each person in Wales produced 53kg of household waste in the first quarter of 2013, a reduction from 55kg during the same period in 2012.

Recycling rates traditionally fluctuate throughout the year, with the spring and summer months generating higher levels of recycling and composting compared to the winter.

The provisional figures show that Denbighshire was the highest recycling local authority in Wales between January and March 2013, reaching a 56% recycling rate.

Powys was the most improved local authority, jumping from a 41.9% recycling rate between January and March 2012 to a 51.66% recycling rate during the same period in 2013.

Delighted

Welsh minister for natural resources and food, Alun Davies, congratulated Welsh householders and local authorities and said he was delighted with their work in helping to reach the 52% target.

He said: This is a real achievement and one that was born of hard work by local authorities and householders right across Wales. It means that Wales continues to be the top recycling nation in the UK by some distance and we should all take pride in this.

Wales achieved a 50% recycling rate in 2011/12. The country is now working towards its second statutory target, which is to reach a 58% recycling, compost or reuse rate by 2015/16, which will then rise to 70% of waste by 2024/25.

Mr Davies added: As a government we will continue work with all local authorities in Wales to ensure their recycling rates keep on getting better. This will help keep Wales on track to meet its second statutory target of 58% recycling in 2015/16 and will ultimately help us to reach our goal of becoming a zero waste nation by 2050.