Recycling rates in Bath and North East Somerset are among the best in England according to new research, with the area claiming number three spot in a league table based on the amount of refuse householders throw out.
The study is based on the recycling and composting rates of English local authority areas and their improvement over the past five years.
Bath and North East Somerset claims third place in the table of most recycling-conscious areas, see below, following a 12.5% improvement in the amount of waste reused, recycled or composted over the past five years.
By comparison, the rate for the whole of England decreased by 7% over the same period.
Plus, in the 12 months to March 2021, the area also handled 382.5kg of waste per person, 6.3% less the amount five years earlier.
The research, carried out by food waste disposer supplier InSinkErator, showed the percentage of waste recycled, reused or composted in Bath and North East Somerset was 59.2% – easily the highest in the areas making up the top 10 in the table.
However, while Bathonians and their local neighbours in the area had reduced the amount of refuse they throw out rather then recycle, the figure was lower than a number of other areas – leaving the area in third behind Colchester, in first place, and second – placed Torridge in North Devon.
At the other end of the table, the least recycling-conscious areas in England are Middlesbrough, Knowsley on Merseyside, Blackpool, South Tyneside and Liverpool.
The research used data from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) to gauge where households across England were taking steps to reduce waste output and increase recycling and composting rates.
It followed the government’s pledge to eliminate food waste from landfill by 2030. It is estimated 40% of food is wasted, but unlike other recycling streams, it is the hardest to get individuals to recycle their leftovers as many consider it unpleasant.
InSinkErator UK sales director Kevin Carr said: “While some areas have made incredible progress on recycling in the last few years, England as whole has gone backwards, which is worrying.
“Just in the UK, our food waste contributes more than 20m tonnes of greenhouse gas to the environment each year.
“As separate food waste collections come into play, households – and councils – have to do more. They need to become more recycling-conscious, building it into everyday routines and processes.”
He said very few people realised that electricity could be produced from food waste, which was even more of a benefit when fuel costs were so high.
“Just dumping food into the bin, however, means we’re doing harm, as well as missing out on energy creation. It really is a habit we need to break,” he added.
