The introduction of organic waste collections have led to an 8% increase in recycling across Devon, and spurred a rise in sorting of dry recycleables. Recycling across the Southwest county rose from 32.7% in 2004/05 to 40.6% in the last financial year, after the introduction of organic waste collections in three of Devon County Council’s eight districts. The tonneage of organic waste collected rose by 47%, from just above 43,000t to 63,432t. The county’s new statistics reveal that where organic waste collections were introduced, there has been an increase in participation of dry recycleables too. Overall, the growth rate in plastics recycled doubled to 57% – a 726t rise – while cans were also up 33%, after ‘somewhat static growth’ in 2004/05. The organic waste collections did, however, lead to a 6% increase in total arisings, where organic collections were introduced at the beginning of the year, reflecting a possible diversion of waste away from home composting. Cllr Margaret Rogers, executive member for environment, urged residents to ‘take responsibility’ for their own waste and compost at home. And Devon’s environment director, Edward Chorlton, advised that ‘we must reduce the amount of organic material in the waste stream if we are to avoid the landfill allowance trading scheme fines’. His report predicted an even greater increase in recycling this year, but warned against complacency, given the long-term need to recycle 60%. ‘Continuous improvement should remain the focus. In this way, the need for a high-capacity residual waste treatment plant will be avoided,’ he said.