Daventry District Council (DDC) recorded the largest per household reduction in the collection of general waste in England following the introduction of its new recycling service.
The Council collected 363 kilograms of rubbish per household in 2018/19 – a 12.7% decrease on the 416 kilograms collected the previous year.
That is the highest percentage reduction across local authorities in England, according to figures published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Camden London Borough Council were second with a 9.3% reduction.
It follows the introduction of the 123+ service in June 2018, which saw an 85% increase in food waste recycling and a 35% rise in mixed dry recycling such as cans, glass, paper and plastic in its first full year of operation.
The service is run by Daventry Norse – a joint venture between DDC and Norse Commercial Services – and sees residents receive a weekly food waste collection, a fortnightly mixed recycling collection in a blue-lidded wheelie bin, and a general waste black bin collection every three weeks.
Around 21,000 people signed up to the optional garden waste collection service in the first year, with even more people signed up to the service this year.
Meanwhile around 8,000 people downloaded the new Council mobile app, which was launched to help people get to grips with their new collection schedule.
Daventry District Council’s Environment Portfolio Holder, Councillor Jo Gilford said: “We have been very pleased with the positive response to the 123+ service. Our residents are recycling more and throwing away less, and should take enormous pride in the huge environmental improvements they are helping us make as a District.
“I would like to thank our residents for their tremendous support, and urge everyone to make the most of the recycling and food waste services offered, so that the excellent progress we are making can continue.”
Residents can find out more about waste and recycling collections in Daventry District at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/recycling