Wales exceeds recycling targets

Recycling rates on Wales have reached 65.7 per cent - higher than the statutory target of 64 per cent.

The recycling rate is the percentage of local authority collected municipal waste that is reused, recycled or composted.

The statutory minimum target will raise to 70 per cent in 2024-25. Five Welsh local authorities have already met this target - Swansea, Pembrokeshire, Bridgend, Ceredigion and Monmouthshire.

17 of Wales’ 22 local authorities exceeded the 64 per cent target, with 12 local authorities reporting an increase in performance on the previous year.

The recently published figures also show the lowest ever amount of waste sent to landfill.

There has also been a decrease in the proportion of waste disposed of via landfill. It is now 1.6 per cent, compared to 42 per cent in 2012-13. The target of sending less than 5 per cent to landfill by 2024-25 has already been met.

Minister for climate change, Julie James said: "The landfill and recycling stats once again show us what can be achieved when we all work together to tackle climate change and put in the hard work to ensure we’re building a green and prosperous Wales for future generations.

"Wales can be proud that its efforts are making a significant difference to emissions, saving around 400,000 tonnes of CO2 per year from being released into the atmosphere.

"Our recycling track record and now near total shift away from landfill is a fantastic platform for us to build on to tackle the climate and nature emergencies – but now is not the time to get complacent.

"I ask everybody in Wales to continue the great progress we’ve made on this journey for the common good – and really think about recycling as a valuable material for the economy."