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Progress towards recycling target
12/11/2007
Scotland is within touching distance of its 2008 target on recycling, more than a year ahead of schedule, according to figures published today.
Statistics show that in the 12 months up to June this year, Scotland's recycling rate stood at 29.8 per cent, just short of the 30 per cent target set for the end of 2008.
Figures for the latest quarter (April-June 2007) were actually as high as 33.4 per cent.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead said:
"It was only September when I was delighted to announce that by the end of 2006, Scotland was recycling and composting more than 25 per cent of its municipal waste.
"Now, mere weeks later, I have again been presented with good news.
"The target of 30 per cent does not take effect until the end of next year, but we are well on course to smash it.
"The figures for this quarter stand at well over 30 per cent, and while they date from summer months, when recycling rates tend to be higher, it still makes for encouraging reading.
"I am also heartened to see that the amount of waste going to landfill continues to fall.
"Following the Waste Summit held last month, the Scottish Government is looking at ways to further improve our performance on waste, and conserve earth's precious resources."
Figures for Eilean Siar are provisional and will be finalised shortly. Any changes will have little effect on the overall figures.
It shoud be noted that the benchmark for the target will be year-on-year figures. While figures for this quarter Q1 2007-08 sit at 33.4 per cent, a true reflection of overall performance can only be gauged from a full year's figures. Recycling rates tend to be higher during summer months, as there is more garden waste collected for composting in the summer months than in the winter.
As they stand, the next recycling and composting targets are 30 per cent by 2008 and 55 per cent by 2020.