Recycling rates reported

Carlisle set to be one of the best 'recycling' cities in the UK

It's official Carlisle is now recycling more than half their household waste.

Figures passed on to the Government from Carlisle City Council report that Carlisle residents recycled 52.27% of their rubbish between April and June this year. The figure has exceeded expectations and means that Carlisle is one of the best performing recycling areas in the UK is also the first Cumbrian authority to achieve this record-breaking figure.

Carlisle City Council is also one of the most cost effective waste collection authorities in the UK, at only £44 per property per year.

The figures are the result of City Council's new waste collection scheme that included the expansion of kerbside recycling to thousands of householders this spring. The staggering 52% compares to 34% during the same time last year.

Carlisle's new look refuse collections are set to save an estimated £1.8million in landfill fines this year. If the scheme continues, as it is, then the amount of household waste that ends up in landfill this year could be almost half the amount landfilled by the city in 2002. Five years ago, the City Council landfilled 37,500 tonnes of rubbish from Carlisle households. That figure could be cut by 14,000 tonnes if Carlisle residents continue to recycle and support the new collections as they are doing now.

Cllr Ray Bloxham, Portfolio holder for Environment and Infrastructure, said:

Our recycling rates have increased dramatically since the introduction of the new collection scheme and we're on track to be one of the best performing areas in the UK.

If Carlisle residents continue to recycle as well as they are the financial, as well as environmental benefits, will be enormous. The City Council scheme will save the County Council millions of pounds in Landfill Tax and will help them avoid punitive and potentially crippling fines if too much rubbish is sent to landfill.

Our new scheme is ambitious because in addition to recycling paper, glass and cans (materials that are relatively easy to recycle) the Council is collecting difficult to recycle materials like plastic and cardboard. Carlisle City Council is the first authority in Cumbria and one of only a few authorities in the UK to collect these bulky, but low weight, materials direct from the householder and is now reaping the benefits. We now have to build on its success for the benefit of all residents.

The new grey bin refuse collection system forms part of Carlisle's recycling revolution that has resulted in the vast majority of householders benefiting from some form of kerbside recycling collection. The new look refuse and recycling collections make a it easier for residents to recycle more and aims to reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfill, helping the County Council avoid Government landfill fines - which may have resulted in an increase in Council Tax.

The first round of refuse collections, using the new grey wheeled bins, began in March. The scheme has now been phased in across the city and rural Carlisle.