Recycling rates on the up in High Peak

Residents in the High Peak are bucking national trends when it comes to recycling their household waste.

Whilst national recycling rates decreased by 0.6% over the last 12 months, High Peak's rate increased by 3% from 44.7% to 47.7% - an increase which saw the Borough Council jump at least 23 places up the recycling league table from 131 to 108.

This improvement came in a year when the Council removed the recycling bring banks which were subject to high levels of contamination meaning the material had to be disposed of rather than recycled. At the same time, the Council introduced collections for small electrical items leading to skip loads of broken toasters, computers, hair dryers and other unwanted appliances being recycled on a regular basis.

Councillor John Haken, Executive Councillor for Operational Services, said: "It's great to start the New Year on such a positive note - and it's thanks to the fantastic efforts of our residents who continue to maintain a focus on recycling.

"We're now recycling almost half our household waste - which is commendable - and I hope we'll continue to see an increase in this figure as people make recycling and reusing more of their waste a firm resolution for 2017."

And residents are being reminded that food and garden waste are amongst the varied items that can be recycled after a recent survey showed some 36% of waste in bins is food waste which could and should go in green-lidded bins.

Food and garden waste in green-lidded bins is taken to a special digester plant at Waterswallows, near Buxton, rather than going to landfill.