Increasing recycling and reducing waste to help reduce our carbon footprint

Housing, Environment and Transport

Version 2, August 2008

Increasing recycling and reducing waste to help reduce our carbon footprint

Why is this a priority?

As we have become wealthier as a society, there has been a significant increase in the amount of waste we produce. The Government wants us to reduce waste, increase recycling, reduce carbon emissions and put a greater focus on waste prevention.

There is evidence that climate change is partly due to human activities: waste generates carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane, which are both greenhouse gases. Increasing recycling and reducing waste is a practical way to manage climate change by managing how CO2 is released back into the environment.

However, we also need to engage and inspire the community to meet the challenges of climate change, improve and promote energy efficiency to reduce the Borough’s carbon footprint and increase the amount of energy from sustainable and renewable sources.

Where are we now?

Global temperatures could by rise at least 5°C between 1990 and 2100, which could cost as much as 20% of the world's GDP if no action is taken (Stern Review)
The National Society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection (2005) ranked South Tyneside 41st out of local authorities in terms of low CO2 emissions, with an estimated per capita emission rate of 5.8 tonnes/year. However the same report highlighted that in domestic emissions, we ranked 156th, with a per capita emission rate of 2.7 tonnes per year
South Tyneside is ranked 150th out of 450 local authorities for low emissions. However, we contribute only 0.15% of carbon emissions, whereas the worst 5 local authorities contribute 100 times more carbon.
In 2005/06, we generated around 92,836 tonnes, but by 2006/07, this had reduced to 91,703. Overall municipal waste tonnage continues to drop.
Our recycling performance is amongst the worst when compared with other local authorities (135 out of 150), with a rate of 23.96% in 2006/07 This improved to around 28% for 2007/8.
The percentage of the total tonnage of household waste which has been landfilled was 79.79% in 2004/05, 78.82% in 2005/06 and 76.18% in 2006/07. Landfill performance improved further in 2007/8 down to 71.32%.
The Ipsos MORI Survey 2006 reveals that 81% of residents are satisfied with the recycling facilities in the borough, with 37% of those being very satisfied. Only 9% were dissatisfied.
The Recycling Village was crowned 'Civic Amenity Site of the Year' as the best recycling facility in the country by letsrecycle.com. Recovery rates are now up to 65%, well on the way to a 75% target.
We have also introduced several innovative schemes to promote recycling, such as the use of a local re - processor for bulky household wastes. Around 50% of the waste collected was recycled.

How are we going to get there?

A partnership has been set up between the South Tyne and Wear Councils for a Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy to consider how we can reduce the amount of waste that is generated, and how best to deal with waste that cannot be reduced, reused or recycled. Overall, it covers waste management for the period 2007- 2027, and aims to increase this to 30% by 2009/10. A key focus of this strategy will be to make recycling as easy as possible, promote recycling services and increase general awareness of waste and recycling and the reasons it is becoming a vital component to help combat climate change.

South Tyneside’s Environment Strategy sets out how we will meet environmental obligations including the Nottingham Declaration. In 2006, the UK released 652.3 millions tonnes CO2 equivalent (Source: DEFRA): 554.2 tonnes were CO2. By 2012, in line with the Kyoto Protocol, we must be below 682.4 millions tonnes CO2 equivalent and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% below 1990 levels.

National Indicators in our Local Area Agreement

NI 186 Per capita CO2 emissions in the local area
NI 192 Household waste recycled and composted

How are we performing?

South Tyneside Council has continued to improve the percentage of the total tonnage of household waste that has been recycled. In 2005/6 we recycled 9.84% and this has been increased to 12.6% for 2006/7. By 2007/8 we reached a level of 16.63%.

Our Kerb-it Green Service collects garden waste for composting. Use has improved 14% since the scheme was started, although the recovery rate of this material has levelled off recently with only a small improvement from 11.3% in 2005/6 to 11.4% for 2006/7 and 11.6% last year.

Comparisons with the other local authorities in Tyne and Wear

The percentage of the total tonnage of household waste that has been recycled
	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/7	2007/8
Gateshead	4.5	9.76	10.50	11.64	12.95	15.01
Newcastle upon Tyne	3.9	8.75	11.83	12.94	15.27	16.09
North Tyneside	3.8	9.6	12.07	12.39	12.9	15.27
South Tyneside	5.4	10.56	9.34	9.84	12.56	16.63
Sunderland	2.4	5.42	9.25	11.89	14.95	17.34

Percentage of the total tonnage of household waste arisings that have been recycled

The percentage of total tonnage of household waste which has been landfilled
	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/7	2007/8
Gateshead	95.20	87.72	87.46	80.12	76.78	74.94
Newcastle upon Tyne	95.50	89.92	86.12	81.55	74.86	66.15
North Tyneside	77.90	77.40	79.61	60.70	60.01	53.47
South Tyneside	91.80	86.00	79.79	78.82	76.18	71.32
Sunderland	96.10	91.95	89.66	81.27	76.22	73.14

Percentage of the total tonnage of household waste arisings which have been landfilled

Source: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/performance/dataprovision.asp

(Recycling figures update due: July 2009)

At present, there is no data available on long term reduction of carbon emissions. However, the targets set by the national agreements we have signed up to are:

carbon reduction targets 2050