Harrogate district residents recycle more and throw out less 26 Nov 09
25 November 2009
Latest figures show that Harrogate Borough Council's recycling rate has risen to an all time high of 31per cent - whilst at the same time residents are showing their commitment by generating less waste in the first place.
In the year 2000, the recycling rate was less than 7 per cent, and the latest audited figures released show a rate of nearly 31 per cent.
At the same time, Harrogate district's residents produce the second lowest
kg per head of waste collected amongst North Yorkshire councils.
The 31 per cent recycling figure is set to rise further as it doesn't include any recycling generated by the recent roll out of the green kerbside waste collection to a further 10,000 homes.
Councillor Michael Harrison, Cabinet Member for the Environment said:
"Residents should be congratulated for using the recycling services they have available to them, whilst at the same time limiting the amount of waste they produce.
When talking about recycling it is easy to forget that the first principle of 'reduce, reuse, recycle' is to reduce the amount of waste we generate and the district's residents certainly play their part in this."
The council is waiting for the results of a door-to-door survey which will help shape the long term plans for recycling in the district.
Subject to funds being available in the council's budget for next year, plans are being developed to provide a further 10,000 properties with the green waste kerbside collection, currently 40,000 households receive this service.
In the meantime Councillor Harrison has commissioned a review of all areas that are classified as hard to reach to see if any further extensions of the kerbside recycling scheme can be achieved.
Currently, the council is trialling a mobile recycling collection service in Knaresborough.
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Councillor Michael Harrison is available for comment on 07979 876655.
Further technical information is available from
Mr Simon Johnson, Head of Environment on 01423 556845.
Media contact:
Lynne Mee, Communications and Media Manager, 01423 556022 email
lynne.mee@harrogate.gov.uk
or mobile 07525 987921.