Denbighshire households recycling half their waste

Jun 24 2009 by Andrew Davies, Denbigh Visitor

Recycling

DENBIGHSHIRE residents are recycling more than ever before, new figures have revealed this week.

More than half of all rubbish collected in the county is being recycled and this is the first time more waste has been recycled than sent to landfill.

New figures show more than 50% of waste collected in April was sent for recycling.

The county said household recycling collections amounted to 1,400 tonnes across April and May, compared with 600 tonnes in the same two months in 2008.

Food waste collections reached 365 tonnes.

Recycling at special parks was 496 tonnes, compared with 212 tonnes in 2008.

And garden waste composting was 1,507 tonnes, compared with 1,396 tonnes the previous year.

The amount of rubbish being sent to landfill is now roughly half that in spring 2005.

Neighbouring Flintshire’s recycling rate for April was 37% while other council were unable to provide figures..

In a statement Denbighshire said: “The council expected a substantial increase in recycling.

“However from day one of the new services, householders have delivered results beyond expectation.

“Around 75% of households now receive recycling collections and the council is working to bring recycling to those who are still without a service.”

In March this year it was announced that houses were to receive a large blue bin, orange food waste container, an information pack and collection calendars.

The large blue bin replaced the dumpy bag, small blue box and blue bag which were used before the scheme took effect.

Denbighshire met the Assembly's recycling target of 25% in 2005/06 and this year had been recycling about 32% of all household rubbish.

Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane has praised both the county council and residents commenting: “Any increase in recycling rates is to be welcomed.

“And despite some initial – and still prevailing problems – Denbighshire County Council has done extremely well to achieve this figure.”

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