Mixed progress for recycling rates in England

A new report from the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has shown progress in some areas of recycling in England and regression in other areas.

The new report has confirmed a 0.3% increase in recycling rates, increasing from 44.9% in 2016 to 45.2% in 2017. The total amount of ‘waste from households’ in England decreased by 1.5% in 2017 to 22.4 million tonnes from 22.8 million tonnes in 2016. This equates to 403 kg per person which is down from 412kg per person in 2016 – a total decrease of 2.2%.

Residual waste treated decreased from 12.5 million tonnes in 2016 to 12.3 million tonnes – a total decrease of 2.1%, while the overall figure of recycled waste decreased from 10.2 million tonnes in 2016 to 10.1 million tonnes in 2017.

The volume of dry recycling dropped from 6.0 million tonnes of waste in 2016 to 5.9 million tonnes in 2016, food waste recycling increased from 355 thousand tonnes to 386 thousand tonnes, while organic waste stayed the same at around 3.8 million tonnes.

EU targets are encouraging member states to meet targets of household waste recycling of 55% by 2025, 60% by 2030 and 65% by 2035 together with packaging directives of 65% recycling by 2025 and 70% by 2030. These targets aim to reduce emissions, waste and potentially save billions of pounds in waste, greenhouse gas and social costs. UK officials have stated that the EU’s directive targets will be transferred into UK law after leaving the European Union.

Commenting on the targets earlier this year, Environment Minister Therese Coffey said: “I want the UK to lead the way in driving global resource efficiency and that’s why, as well as backing the EU’s circular economy package, we have committed to publishing a new resources and waste strategy in 2018.

“As we leave the EU we’ll be able to explore how we go even further to help achieve our aim of leaving our environment in a better state than we inherited it”.

Click HERE to read the full report.

Here at LSPS, recycling is of great importance to us and we help businesses and individuals all across Leicestershire to reduce the amount of their waste that ends up at landfill sites. Our Waste Transfer Station is open to traders and has an extensive range of state-of-the-art equipment.

To find out how about we can help with your waste disposal needs please contact us on 0800 083 7807 or visit our website for further information.