Bristol's recycled rubbish shipped to Belgium

Nearly half of the waste recycled in Bristol is sent overseas – more than 7,000 tonnes in the last nine months.

Since the beginning of the financial year Bristol residents have put out 17,768 tonnes of recyclable waste for kerbside collection.

Almost half of this, 42 per cent, has been sent to Belgium, although Bristol City Council contractor SITA argues the 350-mile trip is a better choice than burying it as landfill.

The 7,403 tonnes is made up of newspapers and magazines and is the equivalent of 27 Airbus A380 superjumbo aircraft, which weigh 275 tonnes each.

Environmentalists aren't convinced shipping waste overseas is the best option, especially in light of Bristol's bid to become the "green capital" of Europe.

In November Bristol was the only British city to be shortlisted for the award, which will go to somewhere with a well-established record of high environmental standards.

Environmental campaigner Glenn Vowles said: "The fact that 42 per cent of the other recyclables goes across to Europe is not green practice – the footprint from this habit is significant."

Green Party councillor Charlie Bolton said: "I have no problem with recyclables being shipped to Europe, as long as there is a plan to develop a homegrown market. I doubt very much that such a plan exists, but would be pleased to be wrong."

A SITA spokesman said: "Sending recycling abroad is much better for the environment than sending it to landfill, even when you take transportation into account."

He said UK paper manufacturers could only recycle part of the eight million tonnes sent for recycling nationally each year, so the rest had to go abroad.

The spokesman sited a report from the Government-funded body Waste & Resources Action Programme, which found CO2 emissions from transportation represent less than a third of the carbon savings from recycling and said emissions could be cut even if materials for recycling are transported as far as China.

Councillor Judith Price, executive member for homes and streetscene, said: "Bristol residents excel at recycling and we urge them to continue their good work."

"If residents did not recycle and compost, the council risks having to pay up to £5 million in penalties per year, costs which would be passed on to the taxpayer."