Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Poor recycling rate blamed on weather
Government statistics show borough recording largest fall across the county
Canterbury’s green image took a knock this week after it emerged recycling rates in the district were dropping faster than anywhere else in Kent.
New figures reveal the amount of rubbish recycled in Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable has gone down 5% in four years.
But the city council insists the downward trend is part of a reflection of declining recycling rates nationally.
The numbers, released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), show a decline in Canterbury from 48.5% in 2013 to 43.2% last year.
City council spokesman Rob Davies said: “Although it is disappointing that our recycling rate has dropped over the last three years, this simply reflects what is happening nationally, where the rate has dropped to 42%.
“We hope the figure at the end of this year will show an improvement on 2015/16.
“Garden waste has a significant impact on our recycling rates. Generally speaking, the wetter the weather, the more we collect and in 2015 it was a dry year, compared with a wetter 2016.
“Recycling of food waste is also a national problem, when initial enthusiasm gradually fades away.”
Dartford has the worst recycling rate in Kent, at just over 25%, while Ashford has the highest at 53% – up on 14% in 2011/12.
Mr Davies added: “We recognise that we need to do more as a district, which is why we’ve been working hard to encourage more recycling of food waste through a Kent-wide publicity campaign with stickers placed on bins.
“We are also aware that some people’s paper and card inserts are broken or have gone missing, which affects their ability to recycle, and are looking at a programme of replacements.”
The Canterbury Green Party is monitoring recycling rates, and wants to see new initiatives tried out in the district.
Spokesman Henry Stanton said: “We’re just kicking off a campaign to get the council to provide mixed litter bins in the city, with one compartment for general waste and one for plastic, paper and glass in another, perhaps with a cigarette disposal section in the centre.
“Such bins are all over Westminster and many cities on the Continent.
“We feel that, not only does it reduce the amount of landfill, but it also sends an important visual message about the importance of recycling.”
Have you stopped recycling? Email kentishgazette@ thekmgroup.co.uk or write to Gazette House, 5-8 Boorman Way, Wraik Hill, Whitstable, CT5 3SE.