Recycling more than we throw away
For the first time Oxfordshire is recycling more of its waste than it throws away. New recycling and food waste collection schemes introduced throughout the county over the last two years mean that Oxfordshire is now recycling more than half of its household waste
In addition to this accomplishment, new national statistics showing recycling performance for the whole of England indicate Oxfordshire is out-performing many other areas. DEFRA released figures show England topped a 40% household waste recycling and composting rate for the first time putting Oxfordshire’s impressive 53% into context. Oxfordshire also ranks as the best county in England for throwing out the least amount per person.
Wayne Lewis is the coordinator for Oxfordshire Waste Partnership. He says: “These are excellent achievements: not only are we recycling so much in Oxfordshire, we’re performing well above the average. The public have really embraced their new recycling schemes over the past two years helping to put Oxfordshire on the recycling map!"
New food waste recycling plants recently built in the county have helped make these advancements possible. All food and garden waste is processed within Oxfordshire, with the new Anaerobic Digestor at Cassington also feeding green electricity into the national grid.
West Oxfordshire is the final district to implement an updated kerbside recycling scheme meaning all houses across the county are now able to recycle their food waste in addition to their regular recycling. Cllr David Harvey is cabinet member for the environment in West Oxfordshire. He says: “Despite our new schemes being a success we’re still looking to build on them so people have even less in their non-recyclable bin. Recycling makes sense financially as well as environmentally. By taking more rubbish out of landfill and giving it another life we’re saving the council tax payer money: so important in these difficult times.”
More information
Oxfordshire recycling and composting results:
2009/10
- Cherwell - 52.06%
- Oxford City -37.64%
- SODC - 65.65%
- VOWH - 36.35%
- WODC - 35.35%
- Oxon overall - 48.75%
2010/11 so far (April - November 2010)
- Cherwell - 60.46%
- Oxford City - 43.44%
- SODC - 68.98%
- VOWH - 46.41%
- WODC - 36.01%
- Oxon overall - 53.64%
County councils with the lowest household waste generation per head (2009/10)
(Kg per head)
- Oxfordshire County Council 328.95
- Norfolk County Council 334.32
- Lancashire County Council 331.58
- Worcestershire County Council 339.97
- Hampshire County Council 341.20
The redesigned West Oxfordshire scheme adds to the existing weekly recycling collections with a new weekly food waste scheme and a free garden waste service which over 30,000 households have signed up to. These comprehensive schemes are expected to push county recycling rates even higher.
During 2009/10 South Oxfordshire District Council was the second best and second most improved recycler in the country and Oxford City maintained it’s performance for lowest amount of waste generated per head, again being second in the country.
Top five improving recyclers (2009/10)
- Rugby Borough Council 18.75%
- South Oxfordshire District Council 18.61%
- Surrey Heath Borough Council 17.79%
- Calderdale MBC 16.19%
- Epsom and Ewell Borough Council 14.80%
Top five household recycling and composting rates (2009/10)
- Staffordshire Moorlands District Council 61.84%
- South Oxfordshire District Council 61.41%
- Rochford District Council 61.19%
- Cotswold District Council 60.40%
- Stratford-on-Avon District Council 58.62%
Authorities with the lowest household waste generation per head (2009/10)
(Kg per head)
- Weymouth and Portland Borough Council 284.69
- Oxford City Council 284.77
- Hyndburn Borough Council 292.68
- Oadby and Wigston Borough Council 293.64
- Purbeck District Council 296.07
All figures from www.defra.gov.uk.
