Wales has been estimated as having the fourth highest recycling rate in the world at 52% despite the Welsh Government claiming the second highest rate at October 2017.
A report published Yesterday (11 December) by consultancy Eunomia, finds that the Welsh recycling rate when compared on a “like-for-like” basis with other countries is 52%.
This is a drop of around 12 percentage points from the 63.8% reported by the Welsh Government for 2016/17.
The dragon’s recycling rate may not be as bright as it seems
Eunomia’s report, published with the support of the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), suggests that the world’s leading recycling nations may be “overstating” the level of real recycling they are achieving.
Eunomia explained: “After adjusting for differences in how different countries measure recycling rates, for example whether construction or commercial waste is included or excluded, or how ash from incineration is accounted for, a more comparable set of recycling rates can be derived.”
For each nation, the most recent available year was used. As at October 2017, most nations reported 2015 data, but in some cases data is only available from earlier years.
Wales
Annual figures published in October showed the average combined reuse, recycling and composting rate across Wales’ 22 local authorities in 2016/17 was 63.8% out of 1.58 million tonnes of waste.
However, as reported by letsrecycle.com, the Welsh figure of 63.8% includes the reuse of IBA into concrete which is counted towards the final rate. IBA cannot be included in the figures returned to the EU or used in the calculation of the UK national recycling rate and is not used by English local authorities (see letsrecycle.com story).
Further to this, Eunomia said Wales counts “significant amounts” of rubble collected at household waste recycling centres towards its recycling rate, but this material is not consistently counted as municipal waste across Europe. And, the consultancy said reporting of dry recycling accounts extensively for material rejected at the initial sorting stage. Reporting of biowaste for Wales also accounts for material rejected at the gate and during the recycling process.
“What’s interesting is that when ranked based on reported recycling rates, the winners are clear, whereas after making adjustments for different measurement methods the top recyclers are much closer together, so the top spot is all to play for if countries want to be ambitious.”
Rob Gillies
Eunomia
Eunomia has made deductions in the final recycling rate for Wales to take into account these factors.
The recycling rates reported by each country established a top three of Germany (66%), Wales (64%) and Singapore (61%). However, using the adjusted rates, the top three countries are listed by Eunomia as: Germany (56%), Austria (54%) and South Korea (54%) with Wales dropping into fourth place (52%).
Response
In response to the publication, a Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The report shows that Welsh householders are still third in the world in terms of their recycling levels. Austria has overtaken Wales in terms of its overall municipal recycling rate, which includes some commercial wastes, however household waste is the definition that is recognised as being more consistent across Europe and the world.
“Wales continues to lead the UK in recycling as our recycling rates continue to rise year on year.”
Commenting on the findings, Rob Gillies, Eunomia managing consultant and report author said: “What’s interesting is that when ranked based on reported recycling rates, the winners are clear, whereas after making adjustments for different measurement methods the top recyclers are much closer together, so the top spot is all to play for if countries want to be ambitious.”
“The fact that some countries have increased recycling rates by 35 percentage points in under 15 years shows that all member states can achieve the new EU recycling targets.”
Stéphane Arditi
EEB
“It’s important to note this research has been carried out so we can identify who the real leaders in recycling are, to share best practice by shining a spotlight on what these countries are doing. We also hope that this will help progress the debate on how best to measure ‘real’ recycling, in line with the principles of the waste hierarchy, in a way that is as consistent as possible within Europe and further afield.”
Stéphane Arditi, policy manager on circular economy, products and waste for EEB explained that the research shows what EU countries need to do to achieve higher recycling rates.
“It also tells in a truly circular economy there can be no room for incineration of valuable resources that could instead be actually recycled,” he said. “The fact that some countries have increased recycling rates by 35 percentage points in under 15 years shows that all member states can achieve the new EU recycling targets.”
Related links
Recycling rates report
The post Welsh recycling rate 52%, finds Eunomia appeared first on letsrecycle.com.
Source: letsrecycle.com General
