Wales on target for better recycling figures

In the final quarterly figures for 2007-08, local authorities across Wales are recycling 5% more than in 2006-07 – at 32% they are on track to hit the 40% target set for 2009-10. In 2006-07 the annual figures were 26%.

Ms Davidson said:

I am pleased that local authorities are now recycling more municipal waste.

This puts Wales in a good position to recycle and compost 40% of their waste by 2010, which is the EU target. In fact some authorities are already achieving way over that figure – the quarterly statistics show that Ceredigion are at 53% and Powys hit 43%. They are leading the way for the rest of Wales to follow.

But all local authorities are rising to the challenge and I am confident that they will be able to achieve the 70% recycling and composting aim which I have proposed by 2025.

Ms Davidson said that to continue this progress everybody has to stop thinking of waste as something to be disposed of as cheaply as possible, but as a potentially valuable resource.

Turning food waste into energy – or anaerobic digestion - would not only cut landfill but provide a valuable resource at a time when fuel prices were rising.

Wales produces a significant amount of food waste every year and anaerobic digestion, which turns organic waste into energy, is the most carbon efficient way of managing it, added Ms Davidson.

Not only does this have the advantage of producing renewable energy but it also produces a high quality soil improver and fertiliser,”she said.

I consider it feasible to separately collect some 800,000 tonnes of food waste each year from households and businesses in Wales. Digesting this quantity of food waste in a network of Anaerobic Digestion plants across Wales would generate around 1% of Wales electricity needs - 0.2 TWHrs. It will also help to generate investment opportunities and green jobs in Wales.

I have already announced additional funding over the next three years for local authorities to set up new services to separately collect and treat food waste from households in Wales. I am urging local authorities to use anaerobic digestion as their preferred method for the management of the collected food waste from now on.

It is critical we change the mindset away from ‘how can we get rid of waste as cheaply as possible’ and instead turn it into a mindset that says “This is a valuable resource that must not be wasted; how can we get the best value from it that least harms the planet.

July 30 2008