The reuse, recycling and composting rate in Wales has risen to 64%, and the tonnage of municipal waste generated has fallen by 6%.
Figures released by the Welsh Government, which cover the year to end of March 2017, show the recycling rate is continuing its upward trajectory. The figure for the year to the end of December 2017 stood at 63%.
The amount of municipal waste arisings fell from 400,000 tonnes in the first quarter of 2016 to 375,000 in Q1 2017.
The figures were published the week after Welsh environment secretary Lesley Griffiths announced plans to halve food waste in the country by 2025.
“These latest recycling figures make for extremely satisfying reading. They reveal the waste we are generating is decreasing while the amount we recycle continues to rise,” she said.
“We should be extremely proud of our recycling performance here in Wales. This is an area where we lead the way in the UK and, indeed, just two countries in the whole world recycle now more than we do.
“We are always looking at how we can continue to improve. Only last week I announced that I intend to consult on plans to halve food waste by 2025.
“Today’s figures prove they clearly share our ambition for Wales to become a zero-waste nation by 2050.”
Wales’ recycling targets are 58% by 2016-17, 64% by 2019-20 and 70% by 2024-25.
As it stands, only one Welsh local authority, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, has missed the 58% target.
Congrats to Welsh councils, people of Wales + Welsh Govt. Political will, resources, comms & support needed. Reproducible in England?— Steve Lee (@SteveNormal) August 24, 2017