Dundee sends less waste to landfill than any other local authority in Scotland, new figures have revealed.
Statistics issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency shows there were 67,182 tonnes of household waste created in Dundee in 2015 but only 4,622 tonnes of that (6.9%) was sent to landfill.
Instead, a third of all waste — 22,373 tonnes — was recycled while the remaining 40,187 tonnes (59.8%) was recorded as “other diversions from landfill.”
In Dundee’s case this means it was likely incinerated at Baldovie.
Across Scotland, councils recycled 44.3% of all household waste collected last year, an increase of 1.4% from the previous year.
A total of 1.14 million tonnes of waste, 46.4% of the total created, was sent to landfill.
There was a 36,000 tonne increase, or 18.8%, increase in waste disposed of in other ways such as incineration.
SEPA said the decrease in waste being sent to landfill was due to increases in recycling and an increase in incineration
Angus Council recycled 59.1% of the household waste produced by its residents last year, a total of 24,102 tonnes.
Fife Council sent 99,965 tonnes for recycling, 52.5% of its total household waste.
Perth and Kinross Council also recycled more than half of its household waste.
The 41,328 tonnes it recycled accounted for 54.2% of the total waste produced.
A spokeswoman for Dundee City Council said it is working hard to increase its recycling rate of 33.3%.
She said: “Dundee City Council is committed to increasing its recycling capacity.
“During October this year a further 24,000 households across the city will be able to recycle their food waste.
“In order to dispose of waste, Dundee City Council primarily uses the Baldovie Recycling Centre as an alternative to land-fill sites.
“The centre is a waste to Energy Transfer Plant. The plant processes 120,000 tonnes of municipal and commercial waste a year and not only generates enough energy for its own needs but also enough to put into the public supply.”
The Scottish Government’s Zero Waste Plan will stop councils from sending biodegradable waste to landfill by 2021.
A company called MVV Environment revealed in June it wants to create a new £100 million incinerator at Baldovie to complement the existing council-owned incinerator.
