Revealed: the worst areas of the UK for metal recycling
The nation’s worst offending areas for not recycling metal have been revealed, with approximately one in five Brits admitting they rarely or never recycle household metal.
More than half of UK residents (53%) admit to not feeling confident that waste put into recycling bins ends up recycled, with just 4% saying they feel confident it does.
Though several measures and initiatives are in place to reduce plastic use in the UK, statistics released by the trade body European Aluminium revealed that the UK falls below the European average aluminium recycling rate, scoring a 72% recycling rate, compared to the European average of 74.5%.
In a bid to highlight the importance of metal recycling, metals specialist metals4U, analysed YouGov Profiles+ GB data to find the areas home to the people least likely to recycle waste household metal.
Residents in Kensington and Chelsea have been revealed as the worst offenders for not recycling metal, with nearly half (47%) of residents admitting that they rarely or never recycle any metal household waste.
The second worst offenders are residents of Dumfries and Galloway, where more than two in five (45%) admit to rarely or never recycling any metal waste.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Burnley residents recycle the most, with 94% of residents confirming they recycle all or almost all metal waste.
Worst offenders for not recycling metal waste (percentage of residents who rarely recycle or never recycle):
- Kensington and Chelsea – 47%
- Dumfries and Galloway – 45%
- Inverclyde – 45%
- Southampton – 37%
- Brent – 35%
- Greenwich – 35%
- Tendring – 34%
- Rushmoor – 34%
- Perth and Kinross – 34%
- Barking and Dagehnham – 32%
Top ten best recyclers (percentage of residents who recycle all or almost all metal waste) are:
- Burnley – 94%
- Tandridge – 88%
- Rossendale – 87%
- Isle of Anglesey – 87%
- Denbighshire – 85%
- Gwynedd – 84%
- Monmouthshire – 84%
- Ryedale – 82%
- Mole Valley – 82%
- Derbyshire Dales – 81%
Paul McFadyen, managing director of metals4U, said: ”Recycling is such a hot topic at the moment, especially with shows such as Blue Planet highlighting the devastation caused by single-use materials, so it is great to see that many of us are doing our bit to reduce waste we use in our day-to-day lives.
“The dangers of people not recycling their waste metal, plastic, paper or general waste include an increase in greenhouse gases and a reduction of fossil fuels and natural resources.
“So, it’s disappointing to see the areas where recycling levels are so low, especially since everyday household mental such as drink cans, food tins and clean foil, are so easily recyclable and many councils allow this waste to be put in recycling bins.”
