Recycling Rates Rocket in North Norfolk

North Norfolk people recycle 43% of all household waste, new figures show, making them among the best recyclers in the country.

According to the table of results for 2005/06 published by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), North Norfolk District Council ranks 29th out of 393 councils in England, with a recycling rate of 39.7%. Neighbouring Broadland Council ranks an impressive 14th, with a rate of 43%. The average in England was a rate of 26.7%.

But from April to December 2006 - the first nine months of the current financial year - North Norfolk District Council averaged a rate of 43%, which is on a par with Broadland's commendable rate last year.

Measured on dry recylables alone, and not including compostable waste like grass cuttings, NNDC ranks 6th in England according to the 2005/06 figures, which are the most recent 'audited' figures.

North Norfolk household recycling doubled in 2004/05 with the introduction of the Twin Bins alternating fortnightly collection service, and later the brown bins for collecting compostable garden waste. It had stood at 17% under the old system of black and clear sacks.

The rate has been rising steadily ever since, smashing the Government's targets and prompting the District Council to set its own, even more challenging targets for recycling.

In 2005/06, 10.7% of North Norfolk's household waste was compostable (collected using the brown wheeled bin) and 29% was 'dry recyclables' (going in the green bin). In 2006/07 so far, 14.4% was compostable and 28.8% was 'dry', reflecting the ever-growing popularity of the Council's garden waste collection scheme. Almost 12,000 households out of the District's 50,000 have signed up to the brown bin schemes so far.

NOTE FOR EDITOR

• To see Defra's figures for English councils' recycling rates from 2005/06, visit: www.letsrecycle.com/info/localauth/league/index.jsp

ENDS