English recycle 50% more than Welsh

FOE Cymru warns of incinerator threat without Assembly action

Figures recently released in England [1] and Wales [2] show that English local authorities are recycling and composting fifty per cent more than their Welsh counterparts.

An analysis of the data, done by environmental pressure group Friends of the Earth Cymru shows that:

• In 2000-2001, the average recycling rate in Wales was 8 per cent of waste produced.
• In England, over the same period, the average was 12 per cent.
• Wales is falling behind every English region except the North East. [2]
• Over the period, half of Welsh councils recycled less than they had the previous year.
• The best performing councils in Wales were Conwy (21.2%), Ceredigion (15.3%) and Powys (14.1%). [3]
• The worst performing councils were Ynys Mon (2.6%), Blaenau Gwent (3%) and Wrexham (3%).
  

Friends of the Earth Cymru has warned that low recycling figures are leaving the way clear for incinerators to be built in Wales. The group is calling for urgent action from the Assembly in its forthcoming Waste Strategy for Wales. Figures released by the Environment Agency show that nine out of ten people would recycle more if their local authorities provided better facilities.

Julian Rosser, Head of Campaigns at Friends of the Earth Cymru commented:

"It is astonishing. More and more studies are suggesting that tipping or burning our waste is bad for people's health and the environment. Yet half the councils in Wales are reporting that they actually recycled less in the last year than they did the year before."

"Low recycling is a recipe for more stinking tips and more incinerators in Wales.

"It is time the Assembly took this very seriously. Environment Minister Sue Essex has announced more money for local authorities' recycling schemes and that's very welcome. However, if the Assembly is to take a real lead on this issue it has to lay out a bold, clear way for Wales and support it with adequate resources."

Friends of the Earth Cymru is calling on the National Assembly for Wales to:

• Declare that Wales should be a Zero-Waste Nation within twenty-five years.
• Set high compulsory targets for local councils' recycling and composting.
• Put a freeze on new incinerators in Wales for ten years.
• Support job creation in new waste minimisation and recycling businesses.
  

Notes

[1] DEFRA, Municipal waste management statistics for 2000 /2001, published on 16th April 2002.

[2] Best Value and Audit Commission Performance indicators, Actual Outturn Data 2000/01- Wales.

[3] Latest Government figures for English regions (% of household waste recycled):

South West 18 %
South East 18 %
East of England 16 %
East Midlands 15 %
Yorks and Humberside 10 %
West Midlands 10 %
North West 9 %
London 8 %
North East 7 %

[4] Recycling and composting figures for local authorities in Wales 1998 - 2001

*doubts expressed about the accuracy of the data.