SEPA reveals positive recycling statistics for Scotland

Scotland is recycling more waste than ever before, according to new figures from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Local authorities across the country recycled or composted 37.7% of municipal waste they collected between October 2009 and September 2010.

Scotland's environment watchdog also revealed drops in the total amount of municipal waste collected - which fell by 69,675 tonnes to 3,184,254 tonnes - and also in the amount of municipal waste that ended up in landfill. This decreased by 102,814 tonnes to 1,893,935 tonnes.

SEPA's National Waste Policy Unit Manager, Kenny Boag, said, "The rolling year figure that we have published today is the one used to assess how close Scotland is to achieving the national target of 40%.

"The figure for the same 12 months in 2008/09 was 35.7%, so I am pleased to note that thanks to the continued efforts of Scottish local authorities and their private sector partners we are showing gradual improvement towards our shared recycling goal," he added.

Mr Boag went on to say that the figures for the three months between July and September last year had now been released, and they showed that Scotland had achieved a recycling rate of 40.5% in that period. This exceeds the national 40% target.