More people recycling in Aberdeen than ever before

03 November 2020

Residents across the city were today thanked as latest figures showed recycling rates in Aberdeen had increased again.

The figures from Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) covering 2019 had a 2.6% rise on the previous year and an increase of 10.9% since 2016 which is the biggest percentage improvement of any Scottish local authority in that time period. 

In 2019, 49.9% of household waste in Aberdeen was recycled, compared with 47.3 % in 2018 and 39% in 2016.

The figures show that Aberdeen recycled more than the Scottish average (44.9% in 2019) for the second year running and it continues to be the highest performing city compared to Edinburgh with 38.6%, Glasgow with 24.7% and Dundee with 38.4%. Aberdeen also produced 1% less total household waste compared to 2018.

Aberdeen City Council operational delivery convener Councillor John Wheeler said: “It’s fantastic to see the recycling figure has increased again and it’s the residents we have to thank for that.

“We would encourage people to ensure they’re recycling as much as they can in their household or communal recycling bins and to take extra or bigger items to household waste and recycling centres.”

The full report is available at https://www.sepa.org.uk/environment/waste/waste-data/waste-data-reporting/household-waste-data/

More information on how to recycle in Aberdeen including what you can (and can’t) recycle, and opening hours for household waste and recycling centres, is available at https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/bins-and-recycling.