Welsh households producing less waste and recycling more than ever
23 May 2014 02:55 PM
According to the latest
statistics, Welsh household recycling rates continue to increase compared to
the same time last year, and the amount of waste generated by councils and
households is falling.
Between October and December in
2013, municipal reuse, recycling and composting rates rose to 53%, compared
with 51% in the same period in the previous year. For the twelve months to
December 2013, the rate was 54%, an increase of 2 percentage points compared to
the same period to December 2012. Traditionally recycling rates are slightly
lower in winter months than in the summer and this is reflected in the figures,
with the previous quarter in 2013 seeing recycling rates of 57%.
Minister for Natural Resources
and Food Alun Davies said:
“These are encouraging
results, and I would like to thank councils and householders across Wales for
their efforts and their commitment to wasting less and recycling more. The
continued increase in recycling rates means that Wales remains on track to meet
our ambitious recycling targets.
“It is also great news
that the volume of waste collected by local authorities has decreased by 2%
compared to the same period last year, and that on average, the amount of black
bin waste that we all produce is decreasing.
”The Welsh Government
supports councils to meet recycling targets and develop efficient waste
collection services through the Collaborative Change Programme, which will
provide an extra £4m of investment to Welsh councils this year. Every
Welsh council offers a food waste recycling collection service, which is
contributing to our high recycling rates.
“Our recycling rates are
the best in the UK and we are reducing the amount of waste we send to landfill.
I’m pleased to say that the Welsh approach is
working.”
The Welsh Government is
committed to supporting households and businesses in Wales to prevent waste,
through the Waste Prevention Programme and campaigns such as Love Food, Hate
Waste, which is helping households to save money and waste less
food.