Aberdeen is producing more waste than at any time in the last four years- despite its significant recycling efforts.
Projected city council figures show that, when combing the figures for recycling, incineration and landfill, some 101,340 tonnes will have been produced in 2018.
This compares to figures of 87,786 tonnes last year, 96,123 in 2016 and 94,834 in 2015.
Fears have been raised that not enough is being recycled in Aberdeen despite a controversial bin shake-up and construction of a multi-million-pound new green waste plant.
The figures also reveal that waste from the city is being sent to Sweden and Norway, as well as sites in Scotland, for processing.
Up to October last year, 16,718 tonnes of waste were landfilled and 32,906 tonnes incinerated compared to last year’s 31,624 landfilled and 17,594 incinerated.
In October 2017, a new £27 million recycling facility opened in Altens which aimed to increase recycling rates.
It is capable of processing 20 tonnes of mixed recycling an hour, including glass, cardboard, paper, plastics, and metals.
Planning permission is also in place for a controversial £180 million waste incinerator in Torry, which will take non-recyclable waste from the city, Aberdeenshire and Moray.
The opening of the waste plant came at the same time as a massive shake up of the bin collection system in the city – which included introducing a “mixed recycling” system whereby all materials were recycled together rather than separated.
The Scottish Government has announced it wants local authorities to recycle 70% of their waste by the year 2025.
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Authorities would only be allowed to bury 5% of rubbish at landfill sites.
And to allow this to happen rubbish would be searched during the process.
All biodegradable waste would also be banned from council tips – and would have to be recycled instead.
Aberdeen City Council already has plans to build a new £6 million plant in the city to help separate different types of recyclable goods.
The authority hopes to be the first in Scotland to build a new hi-tech facility which would see an end to separate collections of glass, paper, card and plastic bottles.
Aberdeen Greens co-convener Guy Ingerson said the situation was “incredibly frustrating” and said that the new mixed recycling system may be to blame.
He said: “We have regularly reminded councillors of the need to change their approach.
“As it stands mixed recycling collection is inefficient, an education programme of what can and can’t be recycled should be implemented and instead of burning waste we should be investing a circular economy.”
Last night, council waste spokesman Philip Bell said: “The current 2018 figure of 34,821 tonnes of recycled waste only reflects the year up until October, whereas, the others are year-end figures.
“The overall year on year trend in recycling is upwards and we will continue to educate and inform customers to help us improve our recycling rates still further.”
