www.defra.gov.uk
Although the most recent figures show that recycling rates in the UK are increasing, the newest EU data indicate that the rate is still lower than for countries on the continent.
Over the last five years, the amount of waste that has been sent to recycling has nearly doubled. Since 2003, 33.8 million tonnes of rubbish have been recycled, according to the Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
Although a number of reports have indicated that the economic downturn has led to a slump in the demand of recyclable materials, new data show that in spite of lower prices for some materials, the majority of what is sent to recyclers by both householders and businesses is in fact recycled.
“Despite a dip in prices for recycled materials, more than 95 per cent of material put out for recycling is being recycled, helping make the best use of ever-scarcer resources,” said Laura Underwood, speaking on behalf of Recycle Now. “The feedback we’re getting from recycling businesses is that markets are open and recycling is still worth a considerable amount to the UK economy at today’s prices.”
These findings coincide with those from the government-supported Waste Resource Action Programme, which found prices for many recyclables have been recovering in recent months.
New figures show that recycling efforts have reduced emissions of carbon dioxide by 30 million tonnes over the last five years – which is the equivalent to removing one-third of all cars from Britain’s roads for a full year.
Thanks to www.businessgreen.com for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.
www.defra.gov.uk
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