Somerset has been named the best-performing area in the South West for recycling accuracy, with the lowest rate of rejected recycling across the region, according to new data from BusinessWaste.co.uk.

The study, which analysed figures from DEFRA and DAERA, ranked local authorities by the percentage of recycling that was rejected due to contamination or incorrect disposal.

Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP), which managed collections during the 2022–23 reporting period, recorded a rejection rate of just 0.02%.

In contrast, Exeter City Council had the highest rate in the South West at 38.82%, with over a third of its collected recycling rejected — equating to 3,425 tonnes of waste that likely ended up in energy-from-waste plants or landfill.

Graham Matthews of BusinessWaste.co.uk noted that both public education and enforcement play a role in reducing recycling rejection.

He said: "There is a certain onus on households to ensure they are recycling correctly to reduce contamination. However, we'd encourage local councils to dedicate resources to educating the public on how best they can avoid recycling rejection with guidance on what can and can't be recycled, alongside tips for cleaning materials. Local councils could also consider imposing fines more frequently for those who regularly disregard recycling rules as a deterrent."

A Somerset Council spokesperson said: "In Somerset we're proud of our kerbside-sort system, it helps us to keep our recycling rates high and rejection rate low. Our recycling system means that the materials our residents present at the kerbside are of high quality and has the added benefit of making them easily recyclable as close to home as possible."

The statistics, based on 2022–23 data, reflect the period before Somerset's transition to a unitary authority, when SWP still managed local waste services.