Council recycle rates increase

The amount of waste being recycled by local authorities has increased in the last year, new statistics have revealed.

A total of 38.2 per cent of municipal waste was recycled or composted in 2010-11, compared to 36.7 per cent in 2009-10.

The figure, however, is still some way off the Scottish Government’s target of 70 per cent by 2025.

Local authorities with the best records include Clackmannanshire, at 49.8 per cent, and Falkirk with 49.3 per cent.

The Shetland Islands (19.5 per cent), Western Isles Council (19.6 per cent) reported the lowest rates to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.