Recycling rates rise again
EXT01 – B02
Scotland's recycling and composting rate continues to make
steady progress. Figures released today (Friday, 12 February), by
the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), show that
Scotland's annual recycling and composting rose to 35.9% for the
year October 2008 to September 2009. The Scottish Government's
target of 30% for 2008 has been met. The next target is 40% by the
end of 2010.
The recycling and composting rate for the second quarter of
2009/10 (July to September 2009) increased to 39.0%, an improvement
on 36.3% for the same quarter of 2008/09.
The amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) sent to
landfill in Scotland is also continuing to fall, with a total of
1.20 million tonnes of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) sent to
landfill in the year October 2008 to September 2009. This is below
the 1.32 million tonnes limit set for Scotland for 2009/10 by the
European Commission under the Landfill Allowance Scheme.
Progress continues to be made on stabilising the growth of
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) produced in Scotland. Approximately
3.25 million tonnes of MSW were produced in Scotland in the year
October 2008 to September 2009 a decrease from the 3.38 million
tonnes produced in the year October 2007 to September 2008.
Kenny Boag, SEPA's National Waste Policy Unit Manager, said: "It
is very encouraging to see Scotland's municipal waste recycling
rate continue to rise and the signs are good in that it looks as
though we will meet our immediate targets. However, even greater
challenges lie ahead and we must all accept that this will require
new and additional services, facilities and most importantly,
changes to our lifestyles so we may further prevent, reuse and
recycle our waste in Scotland. SEPA will be doing everything it can
to support this change as part of the Scottish Government's
forthcoming Zero Waste Plan."
Ends
Notes to editor
- Quarter 2 figures are from 1 July – 30 September 2009 and
rolling year figures are from 1 October 2008 – 30 September 2009.
These are reported by local authority area and for Scotland as a
whole and can be found at www.sepa.org.uk/waste/waste_data/waste_data_reports/landfill_allowance_scheme.aspx
- The recycling and composting rate for the previous rolling year
(July 2008 – June 2009) was 35.2%.
- The recycling and composting rate for the second quarter of
2008/09 (July – September 08) was 36.3%.
- Municipal recycling/composting targets are 40% by 2010 and 50%
by 2013 (required to contribute to meeting LAS targets), 60% by
2020 and 70% by 2025. These targets relate to calendar years.
- The Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) sets targets and timescales
for reducing the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) sent
to landfill. From this, the UK government has identified the
maximum amount of BMW that the UK can landfill for certain target
years up to 2020 and a proportion of these targets have been
allocated to Scotland. Scotland's targets for BMW permitted to
landfill can be found at www.sepa.org.uk/waste/waste_data/municipal_waste/biodegradable_municipal_waste.aspx