We lead UK recyclers but Germans leave us far behind hereWHILE we may be recycling more Welsh waste than ever, we are still way behind the Germans when it comes to being green. New figures show that Wales is winning the race in the UK to attain European levels of recycling. But while we in Wales are ahead of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, we are still behind our European cousins.
Wales’ rate of recycling has jumped 4% since 2006-07, ahead of England (2.3%), Northern Ireland (1.3%) and Scotland (0.8%). Annual statistics for councils across Wales show the amount of household rubbish now recycled or composted has gone up from last year’s figure of 27.7% to 32.2%. Cardiff 27%.. is that because they include garden waste?
Seven local authorities are already recycling more than the 40% of household waste – two years ahead of European targets. But the UK has got off to a far slower start than neighbouring European countries.
The latest EU statistics show that in 2006, Holland had a recycling rate of 64.4%, followed by Austria (59.3%), Germany (57.2%) and Belgium (51.8%).
Sustainability Minister Jane Davidson has set Wales a 70% recycling target by 2025.Gordon James, director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said he was “broadly pleased” with the progress made in Wales by the Assembly Government.
He said: “They are increasing recycling rates and they started off from a very poor position when they came to power, but we have still got a long way to go to catch up with some of the better countries.”
Mr James urged Ms Davidson to take a tough line on waste in the coming months. He said: “We are concerned about a number of proposals for incinerators in Wales. We are very upset about that.
“If you build an incinerator you have to have waste to fuel that and you’re acting against recycling. Where there are incinerators, usually the recycling rate is low.”
Oct 4 2008 by David Williamson, Western Mail
