Fresh data released by Welsh Government reveals Swansea hit a 71.7% recycling rate in 2024–25 — comfortably above the 70% statutory target and up 1.3 percentage points on last year. The jump pushes the city into third place, behind only Pembrokeshire and Monmouthshire.
Pembrokeshire tops the table on 73.5%, with Monmouthshire close behind on 72.3%.
A cluster of four councils — Bridgend, Newport, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire — all share joint fourth place on 71.4%. Bridgend remains above target despite a 1.4% fall, while Newport and Neath Port Talbot recorded some of the biggest improvements in Wales.
(Image: Neath Port Talbot Council)
The national picture shows Wales’ recycling rate rising from 66.6% to 68.4% in a single year — a dramatic transformation from the 5% recorded before devolution.
Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca‑Davies said the figures showed how deeply recycling is now embedded in Welsh life.
“We continue to build on Wales’ already world class recycling. This shows the huge shift in attitudes over the last few decades; recycling is now a part of who we are as a nation,” he said.
“I’m proud of every person in Wales who has played their part in getting us to where we are today – in our homes and now in our workplaces too.”
The latest figures are the first to reflect Wales’ new workplace recycling rules, which require businesses, public bodies and charities to separate key recyclable materials. Since the rules came in, councils have collected an extra 8,187 tonnes of workplace recycling — a 42% increase — while workplace residual waste has dropped by 15.8%.
Landfill use has collapsed to just 0.7%, compared with 95% before devolution.
Wales is now officially the second‑best recycling nation on Earth, behind only Austria, according to global rankings published by Eunomia Research and Consulting and Reloop.
Over half of Welsh councils have now hit the 70% target, and more than 90% improved their performance compared with last year.
The Deputy First Minister said Wales was within touching distance of the top spot.
“Our recycling track record is something to be proud of as we continue taking action to tackle the climate and nature emergency and grow the green economy,” he said.
“But let’s not be complacent. Being number one in the world for recycling is within our grasp if we keep up the momentum.”
