South Oxfordshire Leads England’s Recycling Race Once Again
South Oxfordshire District Council has once again achieved the highest recycling rate in England, according to the latest figures released by Defra on 27 March 2025. The district recorded an impressive recycling rate of 62.9%, reflecting a 1.3% increase compared to the previous year.
This isn’t the first time South Oxfordshire has led the way – it also topped the 2022/23 rankings with a 61.6% recycling rate.
Other High-Performing Councils
South Oxfordshire’s continued success has placed it ahead of Three Rivers District Council, which remains in second place with a recycling rate of 61.9%, a slight improvement of 0.4% from the previous year. Meanwhile, Stratford-upon-Avon climbed two spots to claim third place, reaching a 61.0% recycling rate following a 1% increase from last year. This shift pushed Vale of White Horse District Council out of the top three rankings.
National Recycling Trends
The overall recycling rate across England saw a modest rise, reaching 42.3%, up 0.6% from the previous reporting period. Additionally, ten local authorities reported household recycling rates of 60% or higher, doubling the number from the previous year’s five councils.
The Role of Organic Waste
A significant portion of recycling in high-performing councils comes from organic waste. In South Oxfordshire, organic materials accounted for 60.5% of total household recycling.
In comparison:
- Three Rivers reported 52.4% of its recycling tonnage as organic waste.
- Stratford-upon-Avon had an even higher proportion at 64.2%.
Areas with the Lowest Recycling Rates
At the other end of the spectrum, London Borough of Tower Hamlets reported England’s lowest recycling rate, dropping to 15.8%, a 1.9% decrease from 17.7% the previous year. The borough also had the lowest percentage of organic waste in its recycling efforts, at just 8.3%.
Meanwhile:
- Liverpool City Council recorded a 19.2% recycling rate, marking a 1.3% increase from the previous year.
- The Royal Borough of Kensington fell four places in the rankings, now in the bottom three with a recycling rate of 22.2%, a decline of 0.9%.
The Future of Recycling in England
With recycling rates showing a steady improvement across multiple councils, the focus on sustainable waste management continues to grow. Local authorities leading the way, such as South Oxfordshire, demonstrate that community engagement, strategic initiatives, and strong partnerships can drive recycling success. Meanwhile, areas with lower performance will need to implement effective waste reduction and recycling strategies to catch up with the national trend.
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