Welsh councils receive £3m recycling boost as national campaign begins

Four local authorities – Flintshire, Neath Port Talbot, Wrexham, and Newport City Council – will be granted funding to help them match the Welsh Government’s ‘Collections Blueprint’.

By adopting the Collections Blueprint, the councils will ensure they meet the Welsh Government’s requirements for collecting household waste. The Blueprint ensures councils separately collect paper, glass, metals and plastics for recycling.

The funding comes in the first year local authorities are expected to meet a 58% recycling target for 2015-16. Wales currently recycles 56% of its waste with a long term target of recycling 64% by 2019/20.

Natural resources minister Carl Sargeant said: “Thanks to the efforts of individuals and local authorities, Wales continues to lead the UK with its recycling performance and is the fourth best country in Europe at recycling.

“The recycling of waste is important to our economy and can result in additional jobs and training opportunities as more material is managed through re-processors and re-manufacturers.”

Recycle Week

The announcement comes as campaign groups and businesses from across the UK are getting involved in Recycle Week 2015, which is rrganised by WRAP and its Recycle Now campaign,

From 22-28 June, events will be held around the country to encourage and educate people about recycling. This year’s Recycle Week focuses on the theme of ‘recycling around the home’ to help people improve their day-to-day recycling routine.

Household waste

Recycle Week will focus on ensuring more household waste is reused, from bathroom bottles of shampoo and soap to kitchen waste from cardboard boxes to plastic pots.

Head of recycle for Wales Craig Mitchell said: “What’s currently recycled makes a huge difference, so just imagine what else could be achieved by recycling those items that are sometimes forgotten. We want people to think a little further than the kitchen and recycle items in other rooms in the home.”

Figures from WRAP’s Recycle Now campaign show that more than 30% of consumers are confused about what waste can be recycled. The survey of 2,000 people found half of people fail to recycle bathroom waste, despite many recyclable materials going to waste.

Watch our brand new video for great tips for recycling all around your home! #recycleweek https://t.co/rCSV8E9rhz

— Recycle Now (@recycle_now) June 22, 2015

WRAP director Marcus Gover said new communications resources had been developed to encourage better understanding among consumers. “They’re designed so that partners can communicate clear recycling messages that truly resonate with consumers and provide specific instructions, which should ultimately help to drive recycling rates further,” said Gover.

Another survey from recycle for Wales also suggested a generation gap in recycling habits, with 75% of over 55s saying they recycle everything they can, while just 52% of those aged 18-24 said they did. 

Last week the UK plastics recycling groups launched a new action plan to ensure the industry meets the government’s target of 57% plastic recycling by 2017.

Check back to edie for a feature showing the key facts for waste and recycling for Recycle Week 2015.

Matt Field