Kentish Express Ashford & District
Ashford trashing the rest when it comes to recycling
New figures show Ashford has the best recycling rates in Kent and Dartford the worst.
Statistics released last week by Defra [Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] revealed Dartford is also among the worst recycling areas in the South East.
Just 25.6% of household waste was sent for re-use, recycling or composting in the area in 2015/16.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, it is in the top three for the poorest recycling authorities in the region – out of 73.
But the new statistics are good news for Ashford where 53.1% of the borough’s household waste was sent for re-use, recycling or composting in 2015/16.
That is a far cry from its rate of 14% in 2011/12, that saw the borough branded as poorest in the country.
Its current rate, however, is more than 10% above the national average of 40%.
Since 2013/14, Ashford is the most improved area in Kent, increasing its recycling rate by 11.2%
Cllr Clair Bell, Ashford Borough Council’s portfolio holder for borough presentation, said: “Ashford residents are doing a tremendous job at recycling and recent figures have placed us top in Kent.
“But it is important we work hard to maintain, and where possible, improve this level.
“We hope targeted communications will help our residents receive relevant information and advice so they understand how to recycle smart and help the borough continue with its excellent recycling progress made so far.”
Since 2013/14, Dartford’s recycling rate has dropped from 26.6%, peaking at just 27.6% in the financial year 2014/15.
It Is one of just seven so-called ‘red zones’ with recycling rates under 30% in the South East, and the only one in Kent.
But Dartford Borough Council has hit back, saying that the real environmental issue is landfill, not recycling.
A council spokesman said: “In terms of our responsibility to the environment, it is not underlined by recycling, rather the amount that goes to landfill.
“The latest statistics show that only 0.25% of waste in Dartford went to landfill (it’s usually around 1%), whereas this is much higher for other councils who may have a better recycling rate.
“We unashamedly have a different approach to recycling; we understand it’s good for a moral purpose but if truly concerned by the environment, landfill is the issue and we have a different criteria to other councils.”
Also faring well are Maidstone Borough Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Shepway District Council, each with 47.8%, 45.6% and 44% respectively.
The area which has seen the biggest decrease, however, is Canterbury, with recycling rates having dropped by 5.3% from 48.5% to 43.2%.
Gravesham also saw a noticeable change, with the area’s recycling rate going up a massive 10.5% from 24.5% in 2013/14 to 35% in 2015/16.
The split between areas which have seen a rise and decrease is fairly even in Kent, with seven areas with higher recycling rates since 2013/14 and six with lower.