Brighton and Hove has achieved its highest-ever recycling rate, according to figures released this week.

The coastal city recorded a 7.2 percentage point improvement, reaching 31.6 percent during the first quarter of 2026.

The milestone follows a series of waste management reforms implemented by the Labour administration following its election in 2023.

Among the changes introduced were dedicated containers for food and drink packaging and electrical equipment, alongside an expanded programme accepting a wider variety of plastic materials through household and shared collection schemes throughout 2025.

Weekly collections of food waste commenced in September 2025, resulting in approximately 500 tonnes of organic material being diverted from disposal each month.

The increase in recycling has been matched by a reduction in residual waste, referring to general refuse directed to the energy recovery facility located in Newhaven.

Deputy leader and cabinet member for net zero and environmental services, Councillor Tim Rowkins, stated that addressing the city’s recycling performance had been a primary motivation for seeking elected office.

He explained that residents had been informed such improvements were unachievable due to an existing waste management contract, yet after examining the agreement himself, he concluded otherwise.

Local inhabitants had expressed disbelief that a city comparable to Brighton and Hove could maintain among the country’s lowest recycling rates, particularly given previous Green Party-led councils and a Green Member of Parliament.

The latest statistics demonstrate a reversal of the previous declining trajectory, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to further progress.

Upcoming initiatives include the incorporation of additional material types into collection services alongside efforts to minimise contamination within recycling streams.