Waste recycled by Scottish local authorities increases

Figures from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has shown that the amount of waste recycled by Scotland's local authorities continues to rise.

From April 2009 to March 2010, 36.7 per cent of municipal waste collected by local authorities was recycled or composted, up on last year's 34.3 per cent.

Progress has also been made on stabilising the growth of local authority collected municipal solid waste produced in Scotland. Approximately 3.20 million tonnes were produced in Scotland in the last financial year, down from the 3.29 million tonnes produced in the year April 2008 to March 2009.

In total 34.5 per cent of the municipal waste collected by local authorities in January to March 2010 was recycled/composted an increase on the same time in 2009 when the figure was 33.2 per cent.

Kenny Boag, SEPA's National Waste Policy Unit Manager, said: "It is very encouraging to see significant progress continuing to be made with both Scotland's recycling rate rising and the amount of waste being collected from Scottish households falling."

"This is a very important step towards our Zero Waste goal, however, much remains to be done that will require even greater efforts from us to reduce, reuse and recycle our waste."

Further information:
Scottish Environment Protection Agency