Wales Achieves Record 66.7% Recycling Rate
The Welsh government has recently released its municipal waste management statistics, covering the period from April to June 2024. The report highlights Wales’ remarkable recycling achievements and continued progress in waste management.
Record-Breaking Recycling Figures
Wales has achieved an impressive 66.7% recycling rate for the 12-month period ending June 2024, marking an increase of 0.7% compared to the previous year. This figure represents the highest rate ever recorded for this timeframe.
Key points from the new data include:
- 66.7%: The new record recycling rate for the 12-month period.
- Increase of 0.7%: Improvement from the year ending June 2023.
- Long-Term Growth: Wales’ recycling rate has increased significantly over the past two decades, from around 5% in the late 1990s to the current level.
Quarter-on-Quarter Recycling Performance
The recycling rate for the three-month period between April and June 2024 also shows strong growth, standing at 68.8%. This represents a 0.4% increase compared to the same quarter in 2023, marking it as the highest recorded rate for an April-to-June period.
Notable figures for the quarter include:
- 68.8%: Recycling rate for the April to June 2024 period.
- 0.4% increase: Compared to April-June 2023.
- 381,296 tonnes: The total amount of municipal waste generated during this quarter.
This increase in waste generation was modest, with a 0.3% rise compared to the same period in 2023 and a 2.6% increase from 2022.
Annual Data and Future Projections
While provisional quarterly data is regularly published, the Welsh government also releases final figures annually. The latest annual report, released in October 2024, revealed that Wales’ overall recycling rate for 2023/2024 stood at 66.6%. This was up by 0.9% from the previous year’s figure of 65.7%.
The Welsh government has set ambitious statutory targets to continue improving its recycling efforts:
- 64% by 2019/20: Minimum recycling target.
- 70% by 2024/25: The next key target for waste recycling in Wales.
Acknowledging the Efforts Behind the Success
A spokesperson for the Welsh government expressed pride in the nation’s recycling progress:
“We’ve made tremendous strides since the early days of devolution when our recycling rate was just 5%. This year, we’ve increased our recycling rate by almost one percentage point, thanks to the hard work of local authorities and the people of Wales. We’re already ranked second globally for recycling, and we’re on track to achieve our goal of becoming number one.”
With these continued improvements, Wales is well on its way to setting a global standard for recycling and sustainable waste management.
Statutory Recycling Targets
The Welsh Government has set the following statutory recycling targets:
- 64%: The minimum recycling rate for waste to be achieved by 2019/20.
- 70%: The target recycling rate for waste by 2024/25.
These targets are part of Wales’ ongoing efforts to improve its recycling performance and meet ambitious waste management goals.