RECYCLING rates in West Devon have dropped by more than 2.5 per cent in the last year.

Figures revealed in the agenda for the Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee show the recycling rate for the area in 2017/18 has dipped.

The reduction is blamed on Household Waste Recycling Centres no longer being able to recycle mattresses and carpets, and that only higher grade wood can now be recycled, the report reveals.

West Devon’s recycling rate was at an all-time Devon high of 59.9 per cent in 2011/12, but has fallen to the current 51.2 per cent, dropping by 2.6 per cent last year.

Cllr Robert Sampson, lead member for commercial services, said the switch from paper to electronic media meant there was less paper available for recycling and that they are planning to improve the range of materials they recycle.

He said: ‘West Devon Borough Council has always striven to reach high levels of recycling, topping the Devon league tables in 2011 with a 59 per cent recycling rate, still the highest recorded in Devon and ninth in England.

‘However, there are many factors which can affect recycling rates. Major service changes are always accompanied by big promotional campaigns which boost recycling rates for short periods of time. For example, we have actually seen an increase in our dry recycling rates — this is everything other than food and garden waste — since we launched our new “Box Clever” scheme earlier this year, which included six new vehicles with larger capacity and a simple kerbside sorting system.

‘The switch from paper to electronic media means there is less paper available for recycling and last year, we analysed the waste collected from black sacks and we found that a large proportion could have been recycled. To address this, and looking to the future, we have improvements planned including extending the range of materials we collect.

‘The next two years will be an exciting time for our service, as we make these improvements, sign a new service contract and hope to top the recycling charts once again.’

The report added that WDBC underwent a major service change in 2010/11 which saw a transition from a weekly residual collection into an alternate week residual/garden and food waste collection from all households in the borough, increasing the potential for recycling.

But the documents add: ‘In 2015, the educational resource was reduced. The main impact of this being the loss of the authority’s waste education officer. This, and the nationwide reduction in recycling rate, associated in part to a change in reading habits, accounts for the slow downward trend.

‘The service is about to undergo a further change over the next two years, which is expected to restore the previously high rate.’

The report by Meg Booth, Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste, stated: ‘At a local level, Devon authorities remain committed to improving cost effective waste services for residents, and recycling performance, in a drive to provide more consistent services for all.’