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Recycling on the increase
27/05/2008
Figures published today show an improvement in Scotland's recycling rates and a reduction in the amount of waste going to landfill.
Recycling performance for January-December 2007 shows that 31.2 per cent of municipal waste was recycled or composted.
This is up from 30.5 per cent from the 12 months up to September 2007 and a 4.1 per cent rise from the previous year's figures.
However, Cabinet Secretary for the Environment Richard Lochhead has called for increased action to further improve Scotland's performance.
Ahead of a visit to meet waste officials at Glasgow City Council, he said:
"Today's figures are further encouragement that we are on the right track to improving Scotland's recycling performance and householders, communities and local authorities should be commended for their efforts.
"However, with ambitious targets on recycling and landfill reduction now in place to achieve a Zero Waste Scotland, I want to see more being done, particularly in those areas where performance is below par.
"We need to make it as easy as possible for ordinary people to recycle and local authorities have a major role to play.
"It is particularly appropriate to be in Glasgow today and I hope to hear more about how Scotland's most populous local authority is assisting in the drive to make Scotland greener.
"We want to work closely with Glasgow to improve its performance, which will have a significant bearing on the country's overall standing."
Scotland's targets for waste are as follows:
Percentage of municipal waste being recycled or composted:
Year
2010 - 40
2013 - 50
2020 - 60
2025 - 70
Percentage of municipal waste used for energy:
Year
2010 - 4
2013 - 14
2020 - 25
2025 - 25
Percentage of municipal waste going to landfill:
Year
2010 - 56
2013 - 36
2020 - 15
2025 - 5