Local authorities north of the border recycled nearly 38% of the municipal waste they collected in 2010, according to latest figures from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

In 2010 37.8% of municipal waste collected by local authorities was recycled or composted, compared to 36% in 2009.

The total amount of municipal waste collected by local authorities has also decreased, down 85,942 tonnes to 3,129,821tonnes. And the amount being sent to landfill has reduced 108,306 tonnes to 1,850,716.

SEPA’s waste unit manager, Gary Walker, said: “As we aim to recycle more of our waste it is getting more challenging, but let’s not forget that only five years ago Scotland produced 285,773 more tonnes of waste, and only recycled/composted 24.3%.”

Maxine Perella

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