Recent data shows that, in B&NES, over 60% of household waste is being recycled or composted. As increasing the proportion of waste recycled is a long-term priority for the Liberal Democrat-run council, these latest figures show that their efforts are paying off.
In addition, national Government data released last week shows that Liberal Democrat-led councils are the best in the country for recycling.
Annual waste management statistics for 2024-25, published by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), revealed that councils run by the Liberal Democrats make up 20 of the top 30 councils for the amount of waste reused, recycled and composted. In Bath, Liberal Democrat-led B&NES has been ranked at number 27 out of all councils in England.
Commenting on the figures, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, Wera Hobhouse, said:
“These figures prove what we have known for a long time: when Liberal Democrats run your local services, we deliver a cleaner and greener environment.
“Our councils are leading in making it easier for residents to recycle and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.
“Even with the national challenges of the last year, here in B&NES we have maintained a recycling rate of over 60% and committed to a more sustainable future. We aren’t stopping here; we will continue to innovate to ensure B&NES stays at the forefront of recycling in the UK.”
Councillor Mark Elliott, who is the Liberal Democrat Cabinet Member for Resources, said:
“Boosting recycling is a priority for our Lib Dem administration, so it’s great that this is reflected in the latest stats.
“Consistent efforts to improve recycling are reflected in the data, with B&NES improving from 56.50% of waste recycled or composted in 2024-25 to over 60% in the latest 2026 figures.
“Looking at recent schemes, we are particularly proud of the award-winning new recycling hub in Keynsham, which we know residents really enjoy using. We’ve invested in better waste containers, in ensuring all households have food waste collections, and in tackling fly-tipping. We are also introducing electric vehicles for waste and recycling to help reduce pollution and use locally-generated renewables.
“Thank you to all residents for their recycling efforts. Everything we are doing helps contribute to our key goal of leading the UK in climate and nature action.”
