Exeter records highest annual recycling rate in almost decade
Exeter is the only district in Devon to see an increase in its recycling rate, with the city recycling more last year than it has since 2017.
Exeter is the only district in Devon to see an increase in its recycling rate, recording its highest annual rate in nearly ten years, according to new figures from Devon County Council.
Presented to councillors on the Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee, the data showed that households across the county produced 350,816 tonnes of waste last year, 1.2 per cent down from the previous year.
These figures, along with the news that waste collected per person in Devon also fell from 417 kilograms to 411 kilograms, were presented alongside the results of a Shared Savings Scheme.
This scheme encouraged six district councils to reduce waste and has generated savings of around £24 million since 2016 - money which Devon County Council say has been reinvested to help fund equipment and new technology.
Average recycling rates among councils that took part in the scheme increased from 47.3 per cent to 52.2 per cent.
Exeter was the only one of Devon’s eight districts to improve its recycling rate, according to Devon County Council. Between 2025 and 2026, Exeter recycled 32.6 per cent of its waste - the most it has recycled annually since 2017.
The city is also reported to have had the lowest amount of household waste of any Devon district last year - 257 kilograms per person.
Councillor Adam Billings, chair of the Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee, said that Exeter has made a “welcome improvement”.
“There’s plenty to be positive about,” he said. “Devon is producing less waste, five district councils continue to recycle more than half of their household waste, and… Torbay and Devon County Council are on track to reduce waste collected per person each year to 400kg by 2030.
“But we know there remains more to do on recycling, and particularly on recycling food waste, and that improvements here will both help our environment and reduce the costs that are passed on to residents through Council tax. So we will keep working together to help people reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible.”