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You are here: CIWM  >  Publications  >  Latest News  >  Scotlands Recycling National Average Reaches 43 Percent

Scotlands Recycling National Average Reaches 43 Percent

28 November 2011

Official Statistics released today by statisticians at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) show that Scotland's local authorities recycled 43.6 percent of the household waste they collected in the three months between April 2011 and June 2011

Twelve out of 32 local authorities recycled more than 50 percent of the household waste collected during this quarter.

SEPA calculates the figures from data provided by local authorities and releases the figures four times a year and is the first data set to use the updated recycling rate calculation required by the Scottish Government's Zero Waste Plan.

The data also implements new guidance on what can contribute to household waste recycling, concentrating on high quality recycling of materials. As a result, the data reflects the recycling of paper, plastic, food and other materials into new products, in line with the Scottish ambition for high levels of closed loop recycling.

A number of activities no longer count towards local authority household recycling rates. For example, using the bottom ash from incineration in construction products (such as aggregate and road beds) does not count towards the household waste recycling target.　Additionally, the low quality compost-like material that results from the treatment of mixed waste is not counted in the recycling and composting figures.

The new definition of household waste and clarification of what counts and what does not count towards the recycling rate is available in the Zero Waste Plan - guidance for local authorities, published in March 2011.

SEPA has also made available the recycling rate for each local authority for quarter 1 (Apr- Jun 2011) and the rolling year for Scotland (Jul 2010- June 2011) calculated according to the old guidance in order to add clarity and transparency to the data during the transition from the old guidance to the new.

The change of baseline means it is not possible to carry out a trend analysis. SEPA will provide trend analysis as soon as it is possible to do so.

SEPA is also working with local authorities to improve the accuracy of household waste reporting where household waste is collected mixed with commercial waste and local authorities do not have a robust method to estimate the split between household and commercial waste.

To read the full report CLICK HERE

Darrel Moore