The current recycling rate for the area sits at 28.3% – down 7.7% from the previous year and below the Yorkshire average of 37.5%.
The local news site reported that the Scrutiny Committee met recently to discuss its District Plan which sets out its recycling targets. The Bradford city council recycling target is currently set at 40% – 11.7% higher than the current level.
The current average recycling rate for England sits at 44.1%.
A report to the committee highlighted that 45% of recycling collected from homes was “contaminated” with non-recyclable waste.
The report also claimed that “organised litter picks and community clean ups” were leading to lower recycling rates due to recyclable waste not being separated from general waste.
The report said: “Neighbourhood clean-ups have unfortunately caused an adverse effect on the recycling rate. More waste is collected as ‘litter-picks’ which reduces the recycling rate. This should have been classed as fly-tipped material.”
An additional issue highlighted in the report was the use of public street bins by commercial businesses.
Councillor Brendan Stubbs told the Telegraph & Argus: “I don’t see how we can get this above 40%. The awareness of recycling is massive, how are we going backwards?”
A spokesperson for the council said that officers were attempting to engage with residents in areas where recycling rates were particularly low.
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