Wales reaches 50% Recycling: now count out Mega-Incinerators

Councils in Wales reach 50% Recycling making the Welsh target of 70% by 2025 look unambitious.  Various Councils and municipalities already exceed 70% or foresee this level before 2020.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council declares that they will “maximise recycling and composting”. So why set 65% by 2025? And why sign a long-term waste incinerator contract for 35% 'residuals'?

With an eye to the May local elections, the Docks Incinerator Action Group (DIAG) is approaching VoG politicians to reject the 65% limit, and force the Project Gwyrdd (incinerator) to produce revised plans for 70% recycling by 2020 and diminishing volumes of municipal waste (see Figure below).

Mega-Incinerators - No Way!

Figure:

MSW waste arisings in Wales – from Wastedataflow and Municipal Waste Management Report for Wales, 2009-10 (Nov. 2010, Welsh Government 2011).