Figures just published by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) show Denbighshire householders were the best at recycling in Wales for a second year running.
Recycling in Denbighshire increased from 51% to 55% during the financial year 2010/11.
This means that Denbighshire is one of only two Welsh Councils that are already meeting the 52% WAG recycling target for 2012/13. Failure to meet this target could result in significant financial penalties.
Crucial to recycling success is the fact that Denbighshire residents produce less residual waste (rubbish that is not recycled) than anywhere else in the principality. In 2010/11, each Denbighshire resident produced just 190kg of residual waste, in the next best county residents still produced 216kg each.
Apart from being better for the environment, sending small amounts of refuse for disposal reduces the Council’s liability for Landfill Tax which is currently set at £56 per tonne and increases by £8 per tonne every April.
Importantly, the prospects for increasing recycling in Denbighshire even further remain excellent. There are still around 15,000 households that are yet to receive food recycling collections and other service improvements, which will boost recycling and reduce landfill even further.
Despite being the most effective recycling scheme in Wales, Denbighshire’s x2 service is not the most expensive – far from it. A recent Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) survey of audited costs for the year 2009/10 showed that the cost of the Council collecting a tonne of recycling in Denbighshire was the second lowest in Wales.
Councillor Sharon Frobisher, Denbighshire’s Cabinet Lead Member for Environment and Regeneration said: “This is more good news for Denbighshire residents. The county not only continues to lead the way on recycling, but the Council is providing an extremely cost-effective service.
“The Council extends its thanks to all of Denbighshire’s residents who have, by recycling so responsibly, made these achievements possible.”
