FINAL recycling figures have been released for the Vale of Glamorgan - cementing the county’s position as the second-best in Wales.

The local authority is recycling almost 65 per cent of waste and is exceeding the current statutory recycling target of 58 per cent.

Results for 2015/16 have now also shown the council's reuse, recycling and composting rate increased by almost nine percentage points on last year’s final figure.

On receipt of the final figures, Vale cabinet member for visible, leisure and regulatory services, councillor Gwyn John, said the Welsh Government statistics showed Wales' councils were doing great work to get waste out of landfill and into recycling centres, and that this was as true of the Vale as anywhere else.

"The Vale council works hard to keep residents informed about what can be recycled and the impact on us all of missing Welsh Government’s challenging targets," added cllr John.

"We have a highly dedicated team of refuse collectors who are out almost every day of the year and collect more than 50,000 tonnes of garden, kitchen and household waste every year.

"We have the residents of the Vale who each week work with us to sort their waste and put it out for collection. I am very confident that by continuing to work together we can make the Vale one of the greenest areas in the county.”

The statistics also show the average combined reuse, recycling and composting rate across Wales’ 22 local authorities was 60 per cent, double the amount recycled a decade ago.

Further figures released show the amount of biodegradable municipal waste local authorities are sending to landfill has reduced by 80 per cent in a decade

All 22 local authorities achieved their individual allocated allowance.

Reducing the amount of biodegradable waste going to landfill helps to cut greenhouse gas emissions, preventing the production and release of methane into the air from landfill sites.

Welsh Government cabinet secretary for the environment and rural affairs, Lesley Griffiths said: “Wales leads the way in the UK when it comes to recycling, with these latest figures confirming we are exceeding the ambitious 58 per cent target. This is encouraging as it also suggests we are well on track to meet our 70 per cent target by 2025.

“This achievement is thanks to local authorities and householders’ commitment to recycling. Together we can continue to make improvements. I’d like to see Wales become Europe’s best recycling nation and when looking at how far we have come since 2006 I believe this is something we can and will achieve.”

Latest recycling statistics are available via: http://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/local-authority-municipal-waste-management/?lang=en