Over 100,000 tonnes of waste recycled in Wiltshire in one year

The local authority have released the figures as part of 2020 Recycle Week which runs from 21st-27th September.

Author: Jack DeeryPublished 22nd Sep 2020

Between April 2019 and March 2020, 101,364 tonnes of waste was recycled, composted or re-used in Wiltshire.

That's up from 99,705 in the previous twelve months.

Wiltshire Council have released the full waste figures during that time:

  • 223,214 tonnes of waste dealt with in total - down 4,881 on previous year
  • 212,053 (95%) of that was managed within the UK - up 18,681
  • 88,317 tonnes diverted from landfill
  • 33,533 tonnes sent to landfill

CONTINUE TO RECYCLE

The authority are now encouraging people to continue to recycle as the numbers during lockdown dropped compared to a four month average from last year.

Only 31,923 tonnes was dealt with between April and July this year, with 17 tonnes sent to landfill, despite no household recycling collection services in the county being suspended.

The council say we can do more and are asking us to celebrate the key workers who have continued to collect during the last six months.

We're being asked to think about our household waste and recycling this year

As it is 2020 Recycle Week has the theme of 'Together We Recycle', they are urging businesses and residents to keep doing it despite the challenging times.

Cllr Philip Whitehead, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said:

"This year, Recycle Week is a chance to celebrate the great work that all of the kerbside collection crews, recycling sorting facility workers and household recycling centre teams have done during difficult circumstances, and I'd like to thank them for everything they're doing.

Our kerbside service collected 6,912 tonnes of recycling and composting last month, which is good, but we can all do more to recycle in Wiltshire and increase this further.

Recycling Week is also a good opportunity to remind people to put the correct things into their blue-lidded kerbside recycling bins and black boxes, as contaminants can cause harm to the people who sort the recycling and lower our recycling rate.

Any large or electrical items should be taken to your nearest household recycling centre, rather than put in the blue-lidded bin. Electrical items or old batteries can also be taken to electrical retailers, who are obliged to take them back for recycling."

Wiltshire Council have been telling people what they can and can't recycle

You can find all the details about recycling in the county by visiting the Wiltshire Council website.