ALL FOUR local authorities in Tayside and Fife have beaten the national average for recycling, new figures show.

Between April 2007 and March this year, councils across Scotland recycled 31.7% of the 3.4 million tonnes of waste collected, an annual rise of 3.3%. The total municipal waste produced showed no change on the previous year.

Environment secretary Richard Lochhead described that as a “great leap forward” although the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) said more effort was needed to hit the 40% target by 2010.

Fife had one of the best records—39.1% of rubbish recycled—while Perth and Kinross was on 35.9% and Angus on 34.7%. Dundee recycled 33.0%, the highest figure of the big four cities.

About 55,000 tonnes of the rubbish from Dundee and Angus was burned at the DERL waste-to-energy plant in Dundee, accounting for three-quarters of the national incineration total.

Over 2.2 million tons of waste was landfilled during the year. Reducing landfill is a Scottish Government key environmental target.

At a waste conference in Glasgow, Mr Lochhead said, “The latest figures indicate waste growth has stopped, in line with our target, and I understand we are fast approaching the sale of the 200,000th composting bin.

“These latest moves reflect well on both local authorities and individuals but there is no room for complacency and we need to push on even further.”

Kenny Boag, head of SEPA’s waste unit, said, “To reach the next target of 40% by 2010 will place responsibilities on everyone in Scotland to take part and change some of our habits and choices that so often lead to unnecessary waste.”

SEPA has also published waste action plans for Tayside and Fife. The Tayside version provides guidance on waste minimisation and recycling for new developments and running a waste prevention campaign.

In Fife, SEPA will advise local authority decision-makers on the need for new waste facilities and a move to more sustainable waste management.