Swindon recycling up 36%

Swindon Borough Council has thanked residents for their support after new figures showed a large increase in recycling.

With the support of Swindon residents, the tonnage of recycling collected across Swindon increased by an average 36 per cent between December 2023 and February 2024, compared to the same period 12 months ago.

Since November 2023, Swindon has recycled 1,390 tonnes of paper, 1,110 tonnes of glass, 746 tonnes of cans and plastic and 1,275 tonnes of food waste. 

To recycle as much as possible, the council reminds residents that food leftovers and plate scrapings, eggs, tea bags and coffee grounds, meat and fish, raw and cooked food, bones (from meat, poultry or fish), cooking oil, lard, fats and pet food, can be put in the food caddy. 

The food waste is taken to a company in Wiltshire, where a process called anaerobic digestion is used to break it down.

This generates methane which is collected and converted into biogas, in turn, generates electricity. It also creates a nutrient-rich digestate, that is used as a fertiliser for agriculture and in land regeneration.

People unsure whether something can be recycled can simply check via the Waste Wizard on the council's website.