The figures come 12 months after it was revealed that nine of Scotland’s 32 local authorities had missed the Scottish Government’s target to recycle 50% of its household waste by the end of 2013.
The data published by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) this morning shows that a total of 12 local authorities have now exceeded the 50% goal, but 20 councils are still lagging behind.
According to SEPA, part of the reason for the slow growth in the overall recycling and composting figure is that for the first time, composted wastes which did not reach the quality standards set by PAS 100/110 during 2014 have been accounted for as “Other diversion from landfill” and not as waste recycled.
SEPA claims that if such waste had been included, as in previous years, the overall recycling rate in 2014 would have been 43.6%, compared with 42.2% achieved in 2013 and 41.2% achieved in 2012.
Regulations
The data covers the first year since the introduction of the Scottish (Waste) Regulations – much of which covers the separation of wastes from businesses, but also requires local authorities to provide a ‘minimum service’ to householders.
Many local authorities are still in the process of altering their collection services to fit the requirements of the regulations, including offering separate food waste collections to householders, so it is expected that greater progress may be seen in future years.
The figures suggest that the total quantity of household waste generated in Scotland was 2.5 million tonnes in 2014, an increase of 1.9% since 2013. This is despite a general trend of reducing household waste generation in recent years, which has seen was arisings drop by 5.6% since 2011, a reduction of 147,103 tonnes.
In total the quantity of waste from households totalled 1.2 million tonnes in 2014 with the total sent to landfill falling to 49.3%, a reduction of 78,417 tonnes. It is the first time that Scotland’s landfill rate has dropped below 50%.
Councils
Inverclyde finished 2014 as Scotland’s top recycling council, registering a 56.8% recycling rate for the year, followed by North Ayrshire, Perth & Kinross (both on 56.5%), East Renfrewshire (56.1%) and Clackmannanshire (55.7%).
The three councils to pass 50% for the first time in 2014 were Angus, East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire.
Commenting on the figures, Scotland’s Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead, said: “For the first time, Scotland has sent less than half of its household waste to landfill – a significant milestone as we journey to becoming a zero waste nation. In 2007, almost two thirds of Scotland’s household waste ended up in landfill so today’s figures are great news for the environment and highlight the progress being made.
“The 12 of Scotland’s 32 councils that have met or exceeded 50% recycling, and those that have substantially improved their performance, are to be congratulated. They have set a benchmark and other authorities must now follow that lead.”
Charter
Mr Lochhead also pointed to the recycling charter, which is being developed to encourage local authorities to adopt ‘more consistent’ policies around waste and recycling as a likely driver in future improvements in recycling (see letsrecycle.com story). It is hoped that the charter will be adopted by councils later this year.
He said: “The Household Recycling Charter the Scottish Government is working with local authorities to develop should help achieve this. Bringing in consistent practices across Scotland should also make it easier and less confusing for people to recycle potentially valuable materials including paper, card, glass, plastics and food waste.”
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