Recycling rates hit record levels over festive period
PEOPLE in Rhondda Cynon Taff (RCT) threw away and recycled in record numbers over the Christmas period, it has been revealed.
RCT Council has said that between December 27 and January 6, it collected around 2,000 tonnes of dry recycling and 550 tonnes of food waste.
The former tops the 1,655 tonnes collected in the same period last year, and compares with the just below 1,200 tonnes collected during the average fortnight.
Councillor Ann Crimmings, cabinet member for environment and leisure, said: “The festive period represents an ideal opportunity to recycle as much as possible – and residents’ excellent efforts this year have helped the council collect around 2,000 tonnes of dry recycling and 547 tonnes of food recycling in the space of just two weeks.
“Residents should be rightly proud of the difference their efforts have made.
“I would also like to thank residents for their patience over the festive period and members of the council’s refuse and Streetcare team, who resumed work straight after Christmas and provided an excellent service.
“The sheer volume of recycling makes Christmas very demanding for the service, and staff worked tirelessly in order to complete the collec- tions efficiently.”
Food recycling also increased this year, the council said.
A total of 547 tonnes were collected – 296 in Christmas week and 251 in New Year week.
That represented a 10% increase from the 506 tonnes of food recycling collected at Christmas last year.
In an average fortnight, between 350 and 400 tonnes are collected.
The council also said its Christmas tree collection service proved once again.
In total, 1,737 bookings were made for pre-arranged collections, starting from January 2.
More trees have, and will continue to be, collected, it added. popular
Coun Crimmings added: “This positive recycling performance continues the progress being made in Rhondda Cynon Taff.
Recent Welsh Government statistics showed that 64% of overall waste in the county borough was recycled during a 12-month period for the first time, in the 2016 calendar year.
“This was above the Welsh average of 63% and the Welsh Government’s current target of 58%.”