Recycling rates hit record high
Recycling rates in England reached a new high last year, with 43% of household waste recycled, reused or composted, official figures showed.
But the annual increase in recycling rates was the lowest it has been for a decade, the figures for 2011/2012 from the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) revealed.
Local authorities may have exploited the easiest targets for recycling and are now facing challenges in changing behaviour and improving waste services as England attempts to meet the EU target of 50% recycling by 2020, the report said.
Recycling rates for English local authorities ranged from 14% to 69%, the statistics showed.
Overall, local authorities recycled, composted or reused more waste than they sent to landfill for the first time on record, although Defra said an increase in rubbish sent for incineration may have accounted for less going to landfill.
The total amount of waste generated by households also fell last year to 22.9 million tonnes, the equivalent of 431 kilograms (68 stone) per person.
Defra minister Lord de Mauley said: “Across the country, people are cutting the amount of waste going to landfill by recycling more.
“They are not only protecting the environment, but fuelling a growing industry that reuses the things they throw away.
“More still needs to be done and we continue to push towards our aim of a zero waste economy, with businesses, councils and householders all doing their bit.”
What do you recycle each week where you live?
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