Poor performing councils change to co-mingled recycling collections
Press release
18 July 2013
Poor performing councils change to co-mingled recycling collections
Many local authorities with the lowest amounts of kerbside dry recycling are switching to fully or partially co-mingled collections, according to a new report by global multi-disciplinary consultancy WYG.
Environmental experts from WYG investigated kerbside recycling performance of local authorities in the UK in 2011/12*. This fourth annual report produced by WYG analyses performance by collection type and by deprivation and highlights the performance of the top 30 authorities, whilst also assessing the characteristics of the 30 lowest-performing authorities.
WYG took the opportunity to launch the annual kerbside recycling report at a parliamentary reception hosted by Plastics Europe, one of the report sponsors, with its ‘Plastics 2020 Challenge’ partners. The report was given to many of the prominent industry representatives, MPs and Peers who attended, including Lord de Mauley, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Defra.
The report was published to coincide with the outcome of the Judicial Review application, which dismissed claims that Defra and the Welsh Government had not correctly transposed the separate collection provisions of the EU Waste Framework Directive.
In relation to the Judicial Review outcome, Lord de Mauley recently commented: ‘The Directive introduces the requirement for separate collection from 2015. It is subject to two important conditions. First, where it is necessary to facilitate recovery and recycling and second, where it is technically, environmentally and economically practicable.’
He added: ‘I am of course pleased that the Courts have agreed with our interpretation of the Directive and with our view that it should be for local authorities to make local judgements about where separate collection is necessary and practicable.’
The report examines both the highest and lowest performing 30 authorities to ascertain their collection type, the number of materials collected, the frequency of collections and the type of containers provided for both refuse and recycling. The aim is not to ‘name and shame’, poor-performing authorities but to try to understand some of the reasons for poor performance and how performance can be improved.
As found previously, the top performers tend to collect both refuse and recycling fortnightly from wheeled bins, with all materials including glass fully co-mingled. In contrast, the bottom performers tend not to collect fully co-mingled or to use wheeled bins for recycling, and tend to collect recycling fortnightly and refuse weekly. All the top 30 collected paper, card, cans, glass and plastic bottles, and most collected plastic containers, whereas of the bottom 30, less than half collected all five main materials.
Throughout the report, performance is shown graphically so authorities can benchmark their own performance compared to others with the same classification.
There is also a focus on changes being made to collections for the bottom performing authorities to give an indication of how performance could be improved. However, WYG believes that each authority should decide which recycling system to use and continues to support local authorities that use a variety of systems – kerbside-sort, two-stream and fully co-mingled. The aim of the report is to provide data so authorities can make informed decisions about their approach to recycling. .
WYG’s report ‘Review of Kerbside Recycling Collection Schemes in the UK 2011/12’ is now available at www.wyg.com/recyclingreview or by email from waste.enquiries@wyg.com.
WYG would like to thank the sponsors of this report, Plastics Europe, Biffa, Kier and Serco, for their contributions, and to thank the Packaging and Films Association (PAFA), the British Plastics Federation (BPF) and Plastics Europe for their invitation to launch the report at their ‘Plastics 2020’ reception at the House of Commons.
ENDS
* Note: The report is based on analysis of kerbside recycling performance submitted to WasteDataFlow by local authorities across England, Northern Ireland and Wales for the period 2011/12 and for calendar year 2011 for Scotland, for which data for January to March 2012 has not yet been released.
WYG Notes to Editors
We are an established global project management and technical consultancy to the built and natural environment that collaborates with clients in over 40 countries to help them realise their corporate and project ambitions. We are focused on providing high quality, high value professional services by optimising our skills in design, engineering, environment, transportation, project management, planning and socio-economic needs.
As part of our environmental services, we have a specialist waste team to help clients develop new waste and resource management strategies, systems and facilities. Since the year 2000, WYG has delivered over 200 projects for 22 London Boroughs, 22 Unitary or Metropolitan Authorities, 7 County/District Partnerships and 91 District or Borough Councils, in addition to private sector and other public sector clients.
Lisa Butler, PR and Communications Executive
WYG GROUP LTD
Arndale Court, Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 2UJ
Tel: : 44 (0)113 278 7111
Email: groupcommuncations@wyg.com
Twitter: @wyggroup
Notes to Editors
One of the top-ranking global consultancies employing around 1,300 people, WYG is behind some of the world’s most challenging projects. Our specialists provide expert advice and project management support that is helping shape landscapes, infrastructure, society and culture in the developed and developing world.
We advise on planning and transport, provide engineering and environmental services, consult on waste and resource management, and deliver support to enable economic and social reform.
By engaging with clients at an early stage we ensure that decisions are made which will maximise a project’s potential and deliver our client’s strategic objectives. In turn, this builds strong and lasting relationships with clients in each of our seven core sectors:
• Defence & Justice
• Energy & Waste
• Environment (including Waste & Waste Water)
• Transport
• Commercial Development & Urban Regeneration
• Mining & Metals
• Social Development & Infrastructure
WYG has an international presence with offices throughout the UK, and in Eastern Europe, the Middle East & North Africa, and South Africa.
