MK Tickled Pink as Recycling Rate Tops 50% (Milton Keynes Liberal Democrats)

Milton Keynes Liberal Democrats <info@mk-libdems.co.uk>

MK Tickled Pink as Recycling Rate Tops 50%

October 20, 2009 8:16 PM

For the first time since kerbside collections began in 1989, Milton Keynes residents have recycled more than half of everything that was thrown away.

Figures for August show the recycling rate to be 52.6%, 12% higher than the council's target for the year and 2% higher than the target set by the Government for the UK as a whole to achieve by 2020.

The results put Milton Keynes among the top 20 councils in the country for recycling according to published figures and, if the success continues, the total recycling rate for the year would be about 45%. That would be 55,000 tonnes of waste stopped from going to landfill.

It is expected that the figures for October and November will show further increases as data from the second phase of the food and garden waste collections will be included, as will the number of additional plastics, aerosols and waxed cartons that can be added to the pink sacks.

This achievement has been made possible by the introduction of the new food and garden waste scheme across the borough and the continued commitment of residents to reduce their total waste, with re-use where possible and recycling as much as possible as part of their everyday lives.

Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Galloway, cabinet member for the environment, said: "Reaching this figure shows that people are genuinely committed to reducing waste and to recycling. I would like to say thank you to all those residents who have embraced the new scheme. I am incredibly proud that Milton Keynes Council is at the forefront in this and that we have managed to keep weekly collections. I also want to thank our contractors and their staff for introducing a scheme that has produced such encouraging results in such a short time. These positive results will help the council avoid landfill taxes and fines as well as reducing landfill and helping to preserve the environment."