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THE amount of rejected recycling in Wiltshire is five times lower than the national average, according to new figures.

With any system collecting items for recycling there will always be a certain amount that cannot be accepted because people might have put the wrong items in or they might be spoilt or contaminated.

The lower the rejection level, the more efficient and cost-effective the service and less sent to landfill.

New figures show that nationally nearly 10 per cent of waste sent for recycling is rejected, but in Wiltshire it is less than two per cent, and falling.

The national figures were released in a Parliamentary answer from Environment Minister Joan Ruddock.

According to data collected by her department, 9.3 per cent of material collected for recycling was rejected at the gate of Materials Recycling Facilities (MRFs), the first stop for recyclables collected by local authorities where they are sorted and moved on to processing companies. Rejected waste is mostly sent to landfill.

At Wiltshire's MRF in Lower Compton, which is run by Wiltshire County Council's waste contractor Hills Waste Solutions, only 1.37 per cent was rejected in 2006/07 and this fell to 1.32 per cent in 20007/08.

Toby Sturgis, Wiltshire County Council cabinet member for planning and waste, said: "These figures are a clear sign that the processes put in place by the council and Hills mean we operate an efficient and cost-effective service.

"Not only does that mean that we are offering residents value for money but they can be assured that as much of their waste as possible, which is sent for recycling, ends up being put to good use.

"With our kerbside collections now reaching 98 per cent of Wiltshire our aim is to bring these figures down further and keep on providing a quality service for residents.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank people for their part in keeping contamination low and by being careful with what they put into their black box, garden waste bin or bring site bin."

2:56pm Tuesday 20th May 2008

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