Less than a third of household waste is now being recycled across the city

Household waste recycling rates in Sunderland have stalled with less than a third rubbish being repurposed last year, new figures show.

- by Echo Reporter

The latest Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs data shows that, of the 117,066 tonnes of household waste collected in the city, 34,852 tonnes were sent for recycling, composting or reuse.

That was a recycling rate of 30%—in line with the rate a year earlier.

The amount of waste collected by bin crews from homes, street cleaners and waste bins was 124,715 tonnes to March 2024.

In Sunderland, each household generated an average of 613.1 kilograms of waste—more than the 581.8 generated the previous year.

The figures also show 2,252 tonnes which were sent to be recycled in the area, were rejected.