THE proportion of household waste sent for recycling in Bradford increased last year, new figures show.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs data shows 191,500 tonnes of waste was collected and disposed by Bradford City Council in the year to March 2023.

Of this, around 74,512 tonnes were sent for reuse, recycling or composting – meaning the area had a recycling rate of 38.9 per cent.

It was up from the year before when 36.1 per cent of household waste was sent for recycling.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "We are committed to improving the district's recycling rates by introducing a kerbside food waste collection.

"Trials will take place in summer 2024, once we have acquired the demonstration vehicle.

"This will enable our residents to recycle even more of their waste."

Despite the good news in Bradford, the recycling rate fell across England overall – from 42.5 per cent in 2021-2022 to 41.7 per cent last year. 

Reacting to the national figures, Allison Ogden-Newton, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: "It is disappointing to see our recycling rates falling at a time when we should be doing more than ever to stop valuable materials being buried or burned.

"We are falling further and further behind some of our neighbours in Europe.

"In Germany, 71 per cent of municipal waste is recycled and Slovenia has seen recycling rates increase from 22 per cent in 2010 to 60 per cent in 2021."

She added producers need to make it easier for people by using packaging that can be recycled in kerbside bin collections alongside a simpler recycling system.

Despite the overall reduction in waste collected from households, she said the amount of rubbish generated per person must be "dramatically cut".

"We will do this by reducing the amount of 'stuff' we buy and repairing or reusing what we already own," she added.

Environment minister and Keighley MP Robbie Moore said: "Reducing waste and increasing recycling is crucial for protecting our environment for future generations.

"Overall, the amount of waste from households has gone down, but recycling rates have also fallen slightly this year."

He added: "We know there is more to do and that is why we are pushing forward with plans for a new, simpler common-sense approach to recycling – making recycling easier for everyone across the country."