Ever since records of household waste recycling centre (HWRC) performance began, the overall recycling rate across all HWRCs in England has been increasing year on year. This is borne out by the graph opposite, which shows the national HWRC recycling rate since 2000/01 (the red line). The graph also shows that national HWRC tonnages have been falling in recent years.*

However, the most recent data available at the time of writing (the first three quarters of 2012/13), suggests that the tide may be on the turn for both of these trends. A comparison of WasteDataFlow tonnages for HWRCs in England for the first three quarters of 2011/12 and 2012/13 shows a drop in the national HWRC recycling rate in England of 0.5 per cent. To put this in context, between 2007/08 and 2011/12, HWRC recycling rates were increasing at an average of 2.9 per cent per year (with a 2.1 per cent increase between 2010/11 and 2011/12).

It is too early to say whether this is the start of an extended period of stagnation in England’s HWRC recycling rates, and of course many local authorities and contractors are continuing to make great strides in improving HWRC performance. However, the most recent data is cause for serious concern and shows that around half (49 per cent) of England’s authorities experienced a drop in HWRC recycling rates.

Another major trend in national HWRC performance has been year-on-year decreases in total HWRC tonnages. These averaged at a 5.2 per cent per year decrease between 2007/08 and 2011/12. But the most recent data shows that this rate of decrease is levelling off, with a 0.6 per cent drop in HWRC tonnages between the first three quarters of 2011/12 and 2012/13. Slightly under half (47 per cent) of England’s local authorities experienced an increase in their HWRC tonnages.

The above findings appear to support the assertions of the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT), at least as far as HWRCs are concerned. ADEPT wrote to Defra recently claiming that government waste and recycling data was out of step and urgently needed reviewing, adding that recycling rates are ‘flattening’ and that waste arisings could be increasing.

There are many factors that could be influencing the recent reversal of trends at HWRCs, and it is unclear whether this is part of a broader flatlining trend that could be emerging with England’s recycling (see news story on page 4).

It is possible that budgetary restrictions could be influencing HWRC performance, as some councils have cut operating hours and even entire sites: according to WRAP’s HWRC directory, the number of sites operating in England in 2010/11 was 735, a figure that fell by 23 to 712 in 2011/12 (these figures predate the recycling rates discussed in this article, so it is also unclear whether there was a delayed effect or there have been continued closures). Other circumstances, such the availability of viable outlets for the various materials collected at HWRCs, could also possibly be affecting recycling rates. And the slight increase in HWRCs’ tonnages could be related to changes in the economic climate. Additionally, the tonnage increases and recycling rate decreases could be interlinked – but even if they are, there are clearly other factors at play. Only 30 per cent of English authorities have experienced both HWRC tonnage increases and recycling rate decreases. However, all commentary on the whys and wherefores will remain largely speculative unless research is carried out in this area.

Whatever the reasons behind these figures, the important point is that it should be possible for local authorities and contractors to ensure that the dip in national HWRC performance is temporary. Of those local authorities experiencing a drop in HWRC recycling, two-thirds are achieving recycling rates below the national average. This indicates that in most cases any drop off in HWRC recycling is not due to sites achieving high recycling rates and finding it difficult to maintain them. It also shows room for improving recycling rates across all sites that are performing below the national average (63 per cent recycling in 2011/12).

A key resource for improving or maintaining HWRC performance is the WRAP online HWRC Guidance, available at: www.wrap.org.uk/content/household-waste-recycling-centres-guide.

Written by Resource Futures and WRAP, the guidance is aimed at assisting local authorities and waste management companies to identify actions to improve their HWRCs. It is designed to be easy to navigate, concise and informative, drawing on practical onsite experience and a wealth of research into what makes HWRCs tick. All the major aspects of HWRC management are covered, including:

• site operations and infrastructure;
• reuse systems;
• site staff and management;
• complying with legislation;
• contracts;
• materials recycling and market outlets;
• managing commercial waste;
• improving public behaviour; and
• cost-effective site management.

The guidance document is supplemented with: performance assessment sheets, to help identify specific improvements onsite; a national directory of HWRC performance, to benchmark performance against other authorities; and the newly-launched HWRC Toolkit, an interactive Excel sheet that helps users to identify HWRC improvements and that models the recycling rate that would be achieved by implementing different types of improvements.

Even taking into account the worrying trends in recent HWRC performance, many authorities are achieving high recycling rates and maintaining them. According to the latest data, 29 per cent of English local authorities achieve HWRC recycling rates of greater than 70 per cent across all their sites. These councils cover all types of authorities, from affluent leafy suburbs to densely-populated urban areas.

It could therefore be argued that HWRC recycling rates in excess of 70 per cent should be achievable in all parts of the country. If the prospect of exceeding a 70 per cent HWRC recycling rate at your sites seems daunting, please use the WRAP guidance – there are bound to be several measures that can be put in place to improve site performance, provided there is the will, and the resources are available to make the improvements.

* All HWRC recycling rates and tonnages discussed in this article are excluding recycled rubble and soil.

Eric Bridgwater is Principal Consultant at Bristol-based environmental consultancy Resource Futures.
He can be contacted ateric.bridgwater@resourcefutures.co.uk to discuss HWRC site performance and cost savings.