Council recycling services save carbon emissions

North Somerset Council has come second in a list of local authorities for saving carbon emissions through recycling services.

The Recycling Carbon Index, by Bristol-based waste consultancy Eunomia, says the council saved 108kg of carbon dioxide per person through their recycling services in 2014/15, just 1kg less than Cheshire West and Chester, the top performing authority.

Eunomia's Recycling Carbon Index assesses the carbon emissions impact of local authorities' recycling work in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2014/15, measuring the kilograms of carbon emissions saved per person by each council's recycling service.

Overall, recycling schemes of councils in England during 2014/15 saved 3.5m tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent of boiling the water for 270 billion cups of tea.

Weston-super-Mare Central Ward Councillor Mike Bell said: "Thanks to the efforts of local residents, North Somerset has consistently been in the top three of the index since it was first published it four years ago."

A free download of the report by Eunomia Research & Consulting Ltd is available from their website www.eunomia.co.uk/carbonindex.