PR 2757

HAMPSHIRE REDUCING RELIANCE ON LANDFILL

Hampshire is reflecting national trends which show that reliance on landfilling household rubbish is reducing.

Defra figures showed that nationally a million tonnes less were landfilled in 2004/05 than the previous year, with Hampshire backing this up by diverting an additional 357,000 tonnes from landfill over the same period. With further infrastructure improvements this financial year, it is expected that the total percentage of rubbish landfilled in the county will have dropped to just 22 per cent of all household waste collected.

Hampshire, through the pioneering Project Integra partnership, has been at the forefront of waste management for more than a decade. In that time, the recycling rate has grown steadily and is now estimated to be as high as 32 per cent. Improvements in kerbside collection services, waste disposal facilities and household waste recycling centres have all contributed to this, as have large scale awareness and behavioural change programmes such as the Recycle for Hampshire campaign.

Hampshire's good performance can also be attributed to its long term investment in environmentally sound waste treatment plants. The county is home to three, technologically advanced energy recovery facilities (ERFs), which safely burn non-recyclable household rubbish and, using the energy produced, can create enough electricity to power 40,000 homes. Landfill has dropped by around 70 per cent in Hampshire over the last three years, thanks to the advent of ERFs.

Hampshire already has plans to further reduce landfilled rubbish in the coming years. This includes signing up to a Public Service Agreement with Government with the aim of diverting 85 per cent of household rubbish from landfill by 2008.

Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Environment, Councillor Tim Knight, said: "Hampshire is well known nationally for its positive attitude to reducing waste, recycling more and generating energy from waste. It is extremely satisfying to compare our figures with the national picture, and to see that we continue to lead the way in terms of diverting waste from landfill.

"Hampshire householders have played a big part in this achievement because of the way in which they have accepted new recycling and waste minimisation activities, and deserve our thanks for their contribution to this success."

For further details about the national picture, see www.defra.gov.uk.

ENDS

For further media information please contact: Sarette Martin on 01962 847666
sarette.martin@hants.gov.uk

11/04/2006