Over 70% of waste recycled in Wrexham during start of 2021 as Wales aims for best recycling rate in world

More than 70 per cent of waste in the county borough was recycled during the first quarter of this year.

The figure has been revealed as part of this year’s Recycle Week 2021 (20 to 26 September).

Recycling is now the norm in Wales, with over 92 per cent of people recycling the likes of food left overs and plastic waste, regularly as part of our daily routine.

Locally last year’s recycling figure in Wrexham was 66.86 per cent (April 2020-March 2021), and for the first quarter of this year (April 2021-June2021) local residents recycled 70.41 per cent.

Wales is already the third best recycling nation in the world, however there is an aspiration to get to number one if more people are recycling their waste.

This year’s theme is ‘Step It Up this Recycle Week’, which aims to encourage everyone to pull together and recycle more of the right things more often.

Tips to get Wales to number one

• Recycling our food waste is one of the easiest ways to give our recycling rate a big boost. Put any food waste, however small, in your food waste caddy to ensure it gets collected every week.
• Recycling doesn’t stop at the kitchen door; remember to recycle from other rooms too. You’d be amazed just how much bathroom waste such as empty shampoo, conditioner, hand soap and shower gel bottles can be recycled.
• Most people know that water bottles, cans, and paper and card can be recycled, but don’t forget that you can also recycle more unusual items such as empty aerosols.
• Squash your cans, pots, tubs and trays to save space in your recycling bag, bin, box or caddy. Give them a quick rinse when you are washing up before recycling them.
• If Wales is going to get to number one, everyone has to play their part. This means spreading the Mighty Mission on social media by sharing your recycling pics and tips using #BeMightyRecycle and #RecycleWeek.

Cllr David A Bithell, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “We should be proud of our recycling efforts, but there is still more we can do.

“Almost half of us are still not recycling everything we can, so if we’re to help Wales reach the coveted top spot we need to step it up and recycle even more.

“Together we can help get Wales to number one and protect the planet by recycling more of the right things, every time.”