WIREDGOV

Wales is on course to meet its next recycling target, according to the latest provisional municipal waste figures. Between April and June this year Welsh local authorities recycled, reused or composted 58% of municipal waste.

Wales is on track to meet the next annual statutory target of 58% in 2015/16.  

Natural Resources Minister Carl Sargeant said:

“These quarterly figures show that we can continue to improve our recycling rate and send less waste to landfill.  It’s great to see that some Welsh local authorities are demonstrating that our high recycling ambitions are within reach.  

“Wales is the only UK nation to set statutory recycling targets and we are leading the way in the UK.  Welsh local authorities are already meeting the European target of recycling a minimum of 50% by 2020.  

“It’s encouraging that household waste that is not sent for recycling has continued to decrease to 53 kilograms per person, down 1 kg compared to the same time last year.  Reducing the amount of waste that can’t be recycled is key to creating a high recycling society and reducing the amount that we send to landfill.

“These figures are thanks to the commitment of householders and local authorities.  Working to make the best use of our resources will bring Wales economic and environmental benefits, and I intend to work with local authorities to help them to continue to improve.”

Denbighshire topped the table with a municipal waste reuse, recycling and composting rate of 71%, followed by Pembrokeshire with 69%, Monmouthshire with 66% and Bridgend with 64%.  

Recycling figures are generally high in the April-June period because of garden waste recycling and composting during the spring and summer months.  

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