Wales hits 16% municipal waste recycling rate

This figure exceeds the national target set by the Welsh Assembly by 1.25 percentage points, an achievement hailed by environment minister Carwyn Jones, who has said people in Wales “are getting the message”.

”People are getting the message that it's important to reduce the amount of waste we produce. “
– Carwyn Jones, Welsh environment minister

However, the results also show a wide variation in local authority performance, with 13 councils exceeding the national target and nine failing to hit the benchmark 15% target set for recycling in 2003/04.

Powys has emerged as the top performing council, recycling and composting some 27.97% of all its household waste with Ceredigion and Vale of Glamorgan also recycling more than 20% of waste.

At the other end of the scale, Neath managed to recycle and compost just 10% of all household waste in 2003/04, while Rhondda Cynon Taff achieved an overall figure of just 10.85%.

Support
Environment, Planning and Countryside Minister, Carwyn Jones has said that the figures underlined the value of the Assembly's Wise About Waste waste strategy and showed that it has attracted public support.

“People are getting the message that it's important to reduce the amount of waste we produce and increase the amount that we re-use and recycle,” said Mr Carwyn Jones.
“It is essential for us all to take responsibility and reduce our burden on the environment for our benefit and for the benefit of future generations.

“The amount Wales recycles has more than doubled in the last three years from 7% to more than 16%. This shows that our waste strategy is working and is on target.”

Problems
Acknowledging that some local authorities have encountered special problems, Mr Jones said: “Most of the councils that have not met the target have experienced some operational, contractual or planning problems, which has delayed implementing their recycling plans.

“The Assembly Government is working with them, providing expert advice, support and guidance, to help them meet the targets in future. We are also going to spread best practice from the best performing local authorities so that those councils having difficulties can overcome any problems,” he said.

Councils are to receive an extra 21m in 2004-05 with a further 26m promised for 2005-06, through the Sustainable Waste Grant scheme to help increase recycling and composting levels and to encourage a shift away from landfill to recycling.

Commenting on the figures Lee Marshall, Chair Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee, said: “Congratulations must also go to the Welsh authorities for exceeding the overall target.”

However he also added: “The next statutory targets for individual authorities are due next year. It would be great if we could all meet those targets.”

Recycling breakdown by local authority: