Wales recycling rate moves up to 45%

Wales municipal waste recycling rate reached 45% for the year ending June 2011, figures published today (September 27) by the Welsh Assembly Government have revealed.

The data, which is compiled from information submitted by Welsh local authorities to the WasteDataFlow database, represents an increase from the 40% achieved for the year ending June 2011.

The figures also show a 48% municipal waste recycling, composting and reuse rate for the period April to June 2011 an increase from the 44% recorded for the same period a year earlier (see letsrecycle.com story).

This represents the highest quarterly performance to date by any of the UK nations although recycling figures during the summer months are generally the highest in the year, largely due to their being more garden waste sent for composting.

It also shows the progress being made by Welsh councils towards meeting the first statutory target set by the Welsh Assembly Government for them to recycle 52% of their municipal waste in 2012/13.

Commenting on the figures, Welsh environment minister John Griffiths said: Wales continues to lead the way in waste reduction and recycling. These figures show a clear increase on our recycling performance for the same period last year and prove we are well on the way to reaching our first statutory recycling target of 52% in 2012 2013.

Most Welsh local authorities have significantly improved their performance over recent years, and for this they have reason to be proud. I also applaud the way in which Welsh householders have played their part in reducing the amount of waste they produce and recycle everything they can.

Local authority performance

The figures do, however, indicate that reaching the 52% target will be easier to achieve for some Welsh councils than for others. Of the countrys 22 councils, four achieved a 52% or higher rate for year ending June 2011. These are: Isle of Anglesey (55%), Denbighshire (55%), Ceredigion (53%) and Caerphilly (52%).

Another two Bridgend and Monmouthshire achieved a 50% rate. But, three councils Merthyr Tydfil (35%), Blaenau Gwent (37%) and Powys (37%) are yet to reach the earlier 40% target which, under the countrys Zero Waste plans, they were expected to meet in 2010/11.

The introduction of the statutory goals last November was met with consternation by the Welsh Local Government Association, which claimed a combination of meeting the targets and fines if they are missed could cost the countrys councils 30 million a year (see letsrecycle.com story).

Waste generation

Todays figures also reveal a continued downward trend in the amount of waste generated in Wales with 393,000 tonnes recorded in the year ending April to June 2011, compared to 413,000 for the same period a year earlier.

And, as recycling rates continue to increase, the amount of residual waste generated per person moved downwards falling from 70 kilograms per head in April to June 2010 to 62 kilograms per person in April to June 2011.

Mr Griffiths added: High recycling is an important element of sustainable waste management, but it is not the whole picture. We cannot afford to be complacent simply because we are recycling more.

If we are to meet the ambitions set out in our waste strategy Towards Zero Waste we must continue to do everything we can to prevent waste wherever possible and to become a more resource-efficient society. We must also accept that we need alternatives to landfill for waste which we cannot recycle.