Waste is down and recycling rates rise
RECYCLING rates have increased so much that Uttlesford District Council has been named as the most improved authority for recycling in England and Wales. The council topped the table beating 273 local authorities after its recycling and composting rate ro
RECYCLING rates have increased so much that Uttlesford District Council has been named as the most improved authority for recycling in England and Wales.
The council topped the table beating 273 local authorities after its recycling and composting rate rose 17.2 per cent in a year.
Between April 2006 and March 2007, the council recycled or composted 42.8 per cent of all household waste, ranking it 34th nationally overall.
The improved waste recycling figures were mirrored in Uttlesford's reduction in the amount of waste being sent to landfill - UDC was second-most improved in this category, sending 31 per cent less waste to landfill than the previous year.
Russell Clark, UDC waste and recycling officer, said: "Since the introduction of three-bin recycling, the community has embraced the whole concept of 'reduce, reuse and recycle'.
"Three-bin recycling was only introduced in June 2006 and was operational across most of the district by November 2006, so the figures for this year should be even higher and that reflects well on the efforts of the community."
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As well as being the most improved council for recycling rates, UDC appeared in the top 10 in four other categories in the recycling league table, which was compiled by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Cllr Susan Barker, chairman of the environment committee, welcomed Defra's findings. She said: "I am delighted the efforts made by the residents to reduce their overall waste production and recycle far more than they have done in the past have been acknowledged nationally."
"As we introduce three-bin recycling to the remainder of the district's properties I am sure we will improve our league position further still."
If the council can hit its target of an overall recycling and composting rate of 55 per cent next year, it will sit at the very top of the national table.
Mr Clark said: "Residents can be proud of their achievements and should continue to support the three-bin system.
"We need to continue to drive down waste and that the concept of 'reduce, reuse and recycle' is continually encouraged through the generations.
