East Riding of Yorkshire Best in County for Recycling

Saturday, 19 February 2022 08:10

By Joe Gerrard, Local Democracy Reporting Service

The East Riding has the best recycling rates in Yorkshire and the Humber, according to data.

Information from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) shows the East Riding ranked sixth overall nationally, with a recycling rate of 60.8 per cent.

Lauren Churcher, of Priority Direct, said the figures showed a concerted effort was needed to improve recycling rates.

The figures come ahead of the introduction of a national Plastic Packaging Tax which comes into force in April.

The levy applies to companies which make or import plastic, taxing material which contains less than 30 per cent recycled plastic at £200 a tonne.

Data analysed by Priority Direct from 2021 shows the East Riding came ahead of Calderdale in Yorkshire and the Humber, second with a recycling rate of 53.5 per cent.

Nationally overall, the East Riding came ahead of North Somerset which placed seventh with a rate of 60.8 per cent.

St Albans had the highest recycling rate in England overall with a rate of 64.2 per cent.

After the East Riding, North Somerset came seventh with a rate of 60.4 per cent, Dorset had 60.1 per cent, East Decon 60 per cent and Tandridge 59.9.

The North West’s Barrow-in-Furness had the lowest recycling rate in the country with 17.9 per cent.

Ms Churcher said the vast gulf between the best and worst authorities showed more needed to be done to improve recycling, including the Government stepping in.

She said:

“The vast difference in the recycling rates between St Albans and Barrow-in-Furness is surely reason enough for the government to take control instead of leaving it up to local authorities.

“We know that the environmental damage we’ve caused so far is causing catastrophic damage already, and so we need to do what we can to mitigate it.

“Recycling is in all of our control, it’s so quick and easy for us all to do and in the face of climate change when you can feel so overwhelmed and helpless, getting recycling right can and will make a huge difference.

“All of us making a more concerted effort with recycling, combined with the new Plastic Packaging Tax which is coming in very soon which will see a charge imposed on plastic packaging which doesn’t contain at least 30 per cent recycled material, will put us on a good path and have a hugely beneficial impact on our planet and our futures.”

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