DEVON has maintained its position as having the second highest recycling rate in the country.

This comes as Devon County Council (DCC) issue a reminder for people to continue separating their waste.

The recycling rates in Devon were 54.5 per-cent during 2023/24, which is an increase of 0.5 per-cent on the previous year, according to figures by the Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee (DASWC).

DASWC comprises of Devon County Council (DCC), the Waste Disposal Authority, and the Devon’s eight district authorities who manage kerbside collections.

It also includes Torbay Council, who are a Unitary Council managing both their kerbside collections and their Recycling Centre.

The authorities all work in partnership to deliver a sustainable, cost effective and efficient waste service.

The figures in the latest report include both kerbside collections, as well as items brought in by householders and businesses into DCC’s 19 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs).

Additionally, new figures show that 78.7 per cent of items brought to HWRCs are recycled.

DCC have also seen a reduction in the amount of household waste being sent to landfill from 3.4 per cent to 1.3 per cent in 2023/24.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet member for Public Health, Communities and Equality with a responsibility for Waste Services, said: ‘This is good news and shows that Devon’s councils and residents are continuing to work hard to reduce waste, increase recycling and reuse more.

‘It’s crucial for protecting our environment for future generations.’