Portsmouth Lags Behind on Recycling But Pledges Big Boost
Portsmouth’s Recycling Rate Hits Just 24.7%
Portsmouth City Council’s recycling rate is rock bottom for the southeast, sitting at a poor 24.7%. Only Dartford beats it with an even lower figure. Meanwhile, South Oxfordshire leads the pack with a whopping 63.6% recycling rate.
City Council Commits Cash to Food Waste Collections
Environment cabinet member Councillor Dave Ashmore admits recycling is a “big issue” in Portsmouth. He said the council is “committed” to raising rates with fresh funding to expand food waste collections across the city starting this autumn.
“When we first introduced food waste recycling it was just for a small area but it was always our aim to provide it to the whole city and I’m absolutely delighted we’re able to do that now,” said Cllr Ashmore. “It is up to 40% of a lot of people’s weekly rubbish collection. Food waste feeds climate change and we want to help people not only recycle it but also reduce the waste too.”
Local Efforts Struggling Due to Residents’ Habits
Neighbouring councils like Gosport (26.6%), Havant (33%), Fareham (35.6%), and Winchester (40.5%) all outperform Portsmouth. The council blames part of the issue on newcomers, including students, who arrive with different recycling habits and rules.
“Most students are not a problem,” said Cllr Ashmore. “But we know there are areas of Southsea where it causes a real issue for other residents, and that’s something we need to address.”
Ambitious Plans to Boost Recycling Rates
The rollout of city-wide food waste collections aims to lift Portsmouth’s recycling rate to 30.4%, surpassing southampton/" title="Southampton" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Southampton and Brighton & Hove. The council has also pledged to increase recycling banks to cut plastic waste going into general rubbish.
Last year, the council teamed up with the University of Portsmouth for a campaign targeting poor recycling spots in student-heavy areas of Southsea. Now, with hundreds of thousands of pounds approved by councillors, the city hopes to clean up its act – and fast.
