Council is top with 72% recycling

A NORTH Wales authority has topped the nation’s league table of recycling counties by reaching the 70% target seven years ahead of schedule.

The latest recycling performance data confirms that Anglesey has already exceeded this target with 72.2% of its waste either re-used, recycled or composted, boasting the highest recycling rate of all the 22 Welsh local authorities for 2017-18.

However, it was a mixed picture across the region, with most local authorities failing to match the figures for 2016/17, blamed on a drop in the ash left over at the bottom of an incinerator after waste is burnt that was reported as recycled, as well as improvements in the accuracy of wood reporting.

Conwy was the only other council to see an improvement.

Gwynedd, meanwhile, recycled the lowest percentage of waste in the region, although still hitting the existing 58% target.

However, next year all Welsh councils will be expected to recycle at least 64% before the 70% target is introduced in 2024-25.

By 2050, the Welsh Government is aiming for no waste at all ending up in landfill.

Waste portfolio holder Cllr Bob Parry praised Anglesey residents for showing a real commitment to recycling.

He also noted that introducing three-weekly black bin collections and a new trolley box recycling system in October 2016 has led to a marked increase in recycling levels across the county.

“We are rightly proud of our recycling efforts on Anglesey,” he added.