Hertfordshire's Waste Problem
Society today produces more waste than ever before. Each year the average Hertfordshire household produces over a tonne of waste, which is then collected by the District or Borough Council, or taken to Hertfordshire's Household Waste Recycling Centres. This adds up to a staggering half a million tonnes of waste being produced in Hertfordshire every year - enough to fill the Titanic over five times!
Growth of Hertfordshire's Waste
Not only is half a million tonnes a huge amount, but the quantity is growing at an alarming rate each year.
The Disposal Of Waste
Hertfordshire households produce more waste than can physically be disposed of within the County boundaries. The result is that an increasing amount of your waste has to be taken out of the County for disposal; this is not a sustainable option.
The Cost of Waste Disposal
These growing pressures, together with the annual rise of the landfill tax and introduction of tough new legislation, are rapidly increasing the cost of disposing of your waste.
Currently Hertfordshire's district councils pay around £15 million a year for waste collection and the County Council pays just over £22 million a year for the disposal of waste. Every pound spent on waste is money that could be better spent on other council services such as education and social services.
- Today there is more waste being produced than ever
- The amount of waste produced is growing every year
- Landfill space is running as a disposal option
- The cost of waste disposal is increasing
To find out what we are planning to do about it, read our Joint Waste Strategy.