More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Certain councils in Kent are among some of the worst in the country for recycling levels, according to documents from a recycling company.
Recycling and resource company SITA UK has released an interactive map which demonstrates the percentage of waste recycled by each council in the UK.
It reveals that the majority of councils in the County recycle an average of 40 - 50% of household waste each year.
However, Sevenoaks District Council was one of the lowest of the year - recycling just 32.3%.
It was beaten by these surrounding areas:
Ashford was listed among some of the lowest percentages, however, Ashford Borough Council has said SITA's figures are out of date, referring to last year's recycling rates, and said it has since improved its service.
The council said a new recycling scheme in place for the last few months, with official figures this year closer to 40% putting it in the top 10% of councils.
The borough's recycling levels are rising and it sent a 60% of materials for recycling in June of this year. It saw more recyclable material collected than ever before, according to the latest monthly collection figures from Biffa.
The borough’s waste contractors have reported record results for June 2014, with the amount of recycling collected rising by 6% compared with the previous month. This includes collections of garden recycling.
The borough’s recycling rates shot up from 14% (the worst in the country) to an average of around 55% after the new service was introduced in July 2013.
The council said residents have continued to embrace the new alternate collections of recycling and refuse, along with the weekly food waste collections, and figures continue to improve.
Ashford Borough Council portfolio holder for waste and recycling Cllr Jessamy Blanford said: “We have been delighted with how enthusiastic our residents have been about recycling since the new service and wheeled bins were introduced.
"To see figures continuing to climb after the initial excitement has died down is wonderful news for our borough.”
Sevenoaks District Council also responded to the figures.
A spokesperson said: "We feel our residents are doing a great job of recycling and there’s a high uptake of our weekly collection services.
"Any materials that our residents put into their black rubbish sacks is converted into energy, and not landfilled, so nothing is lost.”
