Englands recycling increase disappointing, claims industry body

Figures released by Defra have recently shown England achieved a recycling, reuse and composting rate of 44.8% it the 12 months to December 2014. The rise was put down to an increase in the volume of organic waste recycled, up 9.9% compared to the same period the previous year. However, the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) said it was disappointed that the figures showed that overall waste arisings increased by 3.7% for the 12 months in 2014. The organisation, which represents local authorities in the county, said it was “concerned that these increases will place a further burden on the dwindling finances of local authorities at a time when more cuts are expected”. LARAC called on government and the wider industry to support local authorities in getting the waste minimisation across to householders. Sally Talbot, Vice Chair LARAC, said: “While some will no doubt concentrate on the overall recycling rate the increases in dry and food recycling show our members are still introducing new services and aiming to hit the 50% target. This is all the more commendable given the ongoing squeeze of council budgets and the certainty that more are to come. "However the figures show that people are consuming again and the increase in overall waste arisings is something that needs to be tackled at a national level. Local authorities have done sterling work in this area but it is time to recognise that there is only so much we can do.” Commenting on the figures, Jacob Hayler, executive director of the Environmental Services Association (ESA), said: “It is positive to see that England’s recycling rate hit a new high of 44.8% in 2014. However, if we are to hit our 2020 recycling targets then the pace of increase will clearly have to improve. Three quarters of the improvement in annual performance came from higher rates of organics recycling and, as local authority budgets continue to be squeezed going forward, we need to ensure that these trends aren’t reversed.” ### Read more Food waste recycling collections to be rolled out for businesses in East England Biffa Polymers remains positive over UK plastics recycling