Residents are being applauded for helping the Council achieve a high recycling and waste performance, including achieving its zero waste to landfill ambition.
The latest statistics show no waste has been sent to landfill in the previous three months, April to June, with a mere 0.2 percent of waste being landfilled in the last financial year. Non-recyclable refuse is now either sent to an energy recovery facility, or used to produce refuse derived fuel. The waste is converted into energy to power homes and businesses, achieving virtually zero landfill.
The statistics also show that whilst the amount recycled is approaching half of all waste, a record 151,500 tonnes of waste was collected from residents by Veolia in 2021/2022, prompting the call to also focus efforts on reducing waste as well. If the amount of total waste could be reduced by just 5 percent, then almost £900k could be saved in disposal costs and, crucially, improve our environment.
Councillor Aisha Cuthbert, Executive Councillor for Sustainability, Green Services and Open Spaces said, “We need to celebrate that we are not sending any waste to landfill these days, which is a stark contrast to a few years ago. A massive thank you to residents for helping us recycle approaching half of all the waste. We are not stopping here and need to do more, in support of the financial savings this will bring and in support of the environment.”
Councillor Cuthbert added, “By recycling and not by disposing as non-recyclable refuse, you are making a difference and by minimising waste in the first place. This could be achieved by giving items to charity or mending items that would otherwise be discarded. There are also a number of community-sharing apps that can help find a new home for unwanted items., All of this makes a difference. We are increasingly sharing this message, including in our schools so that the next generation understand the importance of stewarding our environment and the impact recycling and minimising waste can have.”
Residents can be confident how their recycling is used and each year, updated information about this is published on the council’s website.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Head of Public Affairs Officer, on 020 8461 7670 or email Andrew.Rogers@Bromley.gov.uk.