South Oxfordshire District Council - serviced by Biffa - has become the first local council to reach 70% recycle, reuse and composting rate.
Council achieves a UK first
For the first time in the UK, a local council has recorded 70% recycling, reuse and composting rate. The honour goes to South Oxfordshire District Council, one of three Biffa-serviced authorities in the top 10 table compiled by industry website letsrecycle.
In its annual independent survey of official government data, letsrecycle found South Oxfordshire’s 70.56% rate for the year April 2010 to March 2011 was five percentage points higher than second-placed Rochford’s
65.46%.
The letsrecycle survey reinforces Biffa’s conviction and provides further evidence that alternate week collections, wheeled bins, commingled dry recycling and collecting food and green waste separately divert more materials from landfill than other collection systems.
Gold standard
Biffa municipal development director Pete Dickson said South Oxfordshire’s performance sets ‘the gold
standard’ for local authority recycling, adding “this outstanding result reflects how council, contractor
and residents worked together to add over 50% to the council’s recycling and composting rate within
18 months of a new service launch.”
"Biffa designed the collection services to meet council and resident needs. As a result, we have something that is very close to being a blueprint for success. This service model really works where it is feasible and practical for a local authority.”
