Swansea Council makes £1 million from recycling

Swansea Council has made £1 million from selling its recycling.

An answer to a question put to cabinet members ahead of council meeting next week revealed that the authority recycled nearly 6,000 tonnes of glass, over 7,500 tonnes of paper, and more than 1,100 tonnes of scrap metal and aluminium cans in 2012/13.

In addition the council also recycled more than 40 tonnes of engine and cooking oils.

And June Burtonshaw, the council's cabinet member for place, said that the income from selling the recycled material earned the authority more than £1 million.

Mrs Burtonshaw was responding to a question from opposition councillors.

The cabinet member said: "The oils are recycled at nil cost, however the other materials generate an income for the council.

"Although the individual material market prices can fluctuate significantly from week to week, the sale of glass, paper, scrap metal, and aluminium cans achieved an income of just over £1 million. This income is utilised to underpin the costs of recycling collections.

"While individual material prices are commercial sensitive, I would be happy to discuss a more detailed breakdown directly with any members interested." Earlier this month residents of the upper Swansea Valley helped Powys Council gain the best improvement in recycling rates in Wales.

Provisional figures released by the Welsh Government showed the authority increased its recycling rate by 10 per cent during January to March 2013, compared to the same period in 2012.

It is the best improvement shown by any local authority in Wales for the second time in a row.