CAERPHILLY is recycling or composting half of its waste – the first Gwent council to do so.

Provisional figures from the Welsh Assembly show that in 2010-11 Caerphilly council reused, recycled or composted 51 per cent of domestic and commercial waste.

It means the council is near to meeting the stringent 52 per cent target set by the Assembly for 2012-13.

Three other councils in Gwent – Newport, Monmouthshire and Blaenau Gwent – all saw improvements but still have a way to go to meet the statutory target.

Blaenau Gwent has the largest mountain to climb with 35 per cent of waste recycled, reused and composted, up on 29 per cent in 2009-10.

Newport’s rate rose from 39 per cent to 44 per cent for 2010-11 although the council said that had risen to 48.3 per cent by the end of May this year, while Monmouthshire climbed from 41 per cent to 48 per cent.

Torfaen council said its recycling rate in 2010-11 was at 42.45 per cent - showing its recycling rate has remained static from 2008-09 when it was the best in Gwent at 42 per cent. In 2009-10 its rate was 43 per cent.

All councils could face fines of £200 per tonne if they do not meet 2012-13’s statutory target.

A spokesman for Torfaen said the council expected to see a small drop in the percentage of its recycling because of problems experienced throughout the winter, but insisted it was still one of the top performing authorities and said a new cardboard collection service will increase the amount recycled by 2,000 tonnes.

Blaenau Gwent council said: "We are doing everything we possibly can to meet the statutory Welsh Government targets which come into force in 2012/13. We are pleased to have improved our recycling rate – but more needs to be done if we are to avoid fines."

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Top of the recyclers

WE congratulate Caerphilly council for being the first Gwent local authority to recycle more than half of its constituents’ waste and to virtually reach the Welsh Government’s target.

TheValleys council is now recycling or composting 51 per cent of domestic and commercial waste and needs to find only a further one per cent to avoid any fines from the National Assembly for not hitting its target in 2012/3.

The other Gwent councils are getting there – Newport claims to be hitting 48 per cent, Monmouthshire hit 48 per cent and Torfaen hit 42.5 per cent.

Blaenau Gwent is lagging behind with a total of only 35 per cent, although this is a marked increase on last year’s figure of 29 per cent.

We have said before that we believe Caerphilly is the most successful recycling council because it has the simplest system for householders.

There is just one bin for virtually all household waste, so residents don’t have to go through the complication of separating waste, as in some areas.

This encourages households to use a single bag in the kitchen for all their mixed recycling, which can then simply be tipped into the brown bin.

There are separate bins and bags for food waste and garden waste, but it is the bottles, tins, plastic and paper that makes up the largest bulk of household waste.

We hope all of our councils avoid the £200 per tonne fines for exceeding their allowance.

We believe the key to success is for them to make it as easy as possible for their residents, especially as most people now feel a duty to recycle as much of their waste as possible.