Recycling in Wales reaches record high

New provisional figures published today show recycling in Wales continues to increase and is at its highest ever recorded level.

Based on the provisional data, in 2015/16 the average combined reuse, recycling and composting rate across Wales’ 22 local authorities was 60%, an increase of 4 percentage points on last year’s figure. It is also 2% higher than the ambitious new Statutory Recycling Target of 58%.

The Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths welcomed the figures. She said:

“This is the first year recycling levels have increased beyond the ambitious target of 58%, which is up from the previous year’s target of 52%.  he fact these figures not only achieve the target but, in fact, exceed it is highly encouraging, showing we are continually improving our recycling rate.”

“It’s clear that Local Authorities and householders are working hard to recycle and we are well on the way to achieving our 70% recycling target set for 2025. I am proud that we lead the rest of the UK in our recycling rate but I want us to do even better and become Europe’s best recycling nation.”

All but three of Wales’ twenty two Local Authorities successfully reached the 58% target, based on the provisional data. The remaining Local Authorities have received additional funding as part of the Welsh Government’s Collaborative Change Programme. This will enable them to make improvements to collection services and depot facilities and support them to meet Statutory Recycling Targets in future years.

Quarterly statistical release: Local Authority Municipal Waste Management, January- March 2016.