Recycling rate in Waltham Forest improves
The proportion of household waste sent for recycling in Waltham Forest increased last year, new figures show.
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Hide AdHowever, environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy said a simpler recycling system is needed as England falls "further and further behind" its European neighbours.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs figures show 89,747 tonnes of waste were collected by Waltham Forest Council in the year to March 2023.
Of this, about 29,445 tonnes were sent for reuse, recycling or composting – meaning the area had a recycling rate of 32.8%.
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Hide AdIt was up from the year before when 32% of household waste was sent for recycling.
Yet across England, the recycling rate fell – from 42.5% in 2021-22 to 41.7% last year. All regions had decreases in their recycling rates, except for London which saw no change.
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: "It is disappointing to see our recycling rates falling at a time when we should be doing more than ever to stop valuable materials being buried or burned.
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Hide Ad"We are falling further and further behind some of our neighbours in Europe. In Germany, 71% of municipal waste is recycled and Slovenia has seen recycling rates increase from 22% in 2010 to 60% in 2021."
She added producers need to make it easier for people by using packaging that can be recycled in kerbside bin collections alongside a simpler recycling system.
Despite the overall reduction in waste collected from households, she said the amount of rubbish generated per person must be "dramatically cut".
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Hide Ad"We will do this by reducing the amount of 'stuff' we buy and repairing or reusing what we already own," she added.
Overall, total local authority managed waste in England decreased by 6% to 24.5 million tonnes in the recent year.
The figures also show the estimated household waste fell from 417.2 kilograms per person in 2021-22 to 390.2 kilograms last year.
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Hide AdIn Waltham Forest, about 315.7 kilograms of household waste was recorded per person last year – down from 360.9 kilograms in 2021-22.
Darren Rodwell, environment spokesperson for the LGA said: "Every place is different, and councils understand that what works for reducing waste in an urban tower block is different for a rural cottage."
He said recycling rates can be boosted with businesses and manufacturers improving waste reduction and package reuse.
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Hide AdLocal authorities also need clarity on the timetable for Government's plans to reform waste and recycling, he added.
Environment minister Robbie Moore said: "Reducing waste and increasing recycling is crucial for protecting our environment for future generations.
"Overall, the amount of waste from households has gone down, but recycling rates have also fallen slightly this year."
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Hide AdHe added: "We know there is more to do and that is why we are pushing forward with plans for a new, simpler common-sense approach to recycling – making recycling easier for everyone across the country."