The majority of local authorities across the north and north-east failed to meet a target to recycle 50% of household waste by 2013.
Statistics published by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) yesterday showed that only Moray Council was successful with householders recycling or composting 51.4% of waste.
The rate in Aberdeen last year was 37.1%, 35.8% in Aberdeenshire, 45% in Highland, 33.6% in the Western Isles, 30.8% in Orkney and 12.2% in Shetland.
Significant progress has been made in Orkney because only 22.5% of waste was recycled in 2012 but the rate in Shetland has gone backwards as 13.5% of waste was recycled that year.
By contrast, residents in North Ayrshire recycled/composted 56.1% of waste in 2013, 56.3% in East Renfrewshire, 59.9% in Clackmannanshire, 55.9% in Fife and 53.7% in Stirling.
The figures showed that 43.2% of all household waste across Scotland was recycled/composted in 2013, up from 41.2% the year before.
Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has praised councils for their efforts but said more progress was needed as a matter of priority.
The Moray MSP said: “There are a number of measures we have put in place which we will not see the impact of until next year’s statistics.
“They include our landmark waste regulations which require councils to provide recycling services to all households as well as the food waste collections now being rolled out across Scotland.
“In addition we are taking wider action to cut litter and waste such as the introduction of carrier bag charges from October 20.”
North-east Conservative MSP Nanette Milne claimed poor funding settlements for local authorities across the region was partly to blame for targets not being met.
“Residents are clearly keen to recycle more and it is vital that we see new and innovative approaches especially in rural communities to make it easier for families and businesses to recycle,” she added.
But north-east Liberal Democrat MSP Alison McInnes said Aberdeenshire Council was in the process of rolling out a comprehensive new recycling collection service which would “significantly improve” the figures.
