19 April 2002
English local authorities have doubled the amount of useful products they retrieve from household waste since 1996/97, according to new government figures.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said that 6 million tonnes (21%) of municipal waste had residual value through recycling, energy generation or composting in 2000/01, compared with three million tonnes in 1996/97.
Councils collected 25.1 million tonnes in 2000/01 – over 11% up on 1996/97 figures. The proportion of waste dumped in landfill sites fell from 84% to 78%, and the proportion recycled increased from 7% to 12%.
About 500kg – half a tonne – of household waste was collected per person – 10% more than 1996/97.
PFapr2002
