Recycling in city slammed as ‘appalling’

EXETER’S recycling rate has been described as “appalling” as it again ranked bottom of all councils in Devon.

Despite a slight increase on the previous year, just 27.8 per cent of waste was recycled in the city in 2020/21 according to new waste performance statistics, less than half the figure of neighbouring

East Devon. By comparison, Plymouth’s recycling rate the year before was 34.1 per cent.

Exeter City Council does not yet offer kerbside food waste and glass collections for households, though a limited food trial is set to begin soon. Currently, residents put unwanted and leftover food in their black bags for collection and take glass to bottle banks.

Councillor Diana Moore (Green, St David’s), co-leader of the Progressive Group which includes the Greens, Lib Dems and one Independent, said: “It’s encouraging the rate’s gone up but actually the recycling rate in Exeter is appalling and we can do much better than that.”

The new report, presented to the Devon authorities’ strategic waste committee, acknowledges the “combination of challenges faced by urban authorities, including organic waste collection policies”.

In July Exeter put kerbside glass collection on hold indefinitely, while the long-awaited food service was scaled back to a pilot for one area this autumn. Councillors previously heard that the pandemic was the main reason for the delay, along with setbacks in buying electric vehicles to operate the service.

Speaking in July, Councillor David Harvey (Labour, Pin hoe), portfolio holder for city management, said: “I and my colleagues are not prepared to rush a half-baked service,” adding: “The staff are working their socks off to deliver this for the residents of Exeter.”

Despite having the worst recycling rate, Exeter did produce the least amount of household waste per head in Devon (296kg) last year. People in the South

Hams are the highest waste generators (410kg).