Glossary of terms used within the Online Recycling Information System

Aluminium diversion rate:  This represents the total diversion of aluminium packaging material collected via kerbside schemes and bring sites

Alternate with residual:  This is the term used to illustrate that the dry or organic kerbside collections alternate with the residual collections - i.e. both are fortnightly, but the householder receives a collection (either dry/organic or residual) every week

BVPI (England): Best Value Performance Indicators,

  • BVPI82a - percentage of household recycling/total household waste
  • BVPI82b - percentage of household composting/total household waste

Charge for organic scheme:  This shows which councils charge for the collection of garden (green) waste from the kerbside

Co-mingled:  This describes kerbside collection schemes where all the dry recyclable materials from a household are collected mixed, typically in a single compartment vehicle and delivered to a Materials Recovery Facility for sorting

Container type:  This describes the type of container used by the householder to store materials for collection at kerbside

Diversion rate:  This refers to the amount of material (in kg hh yr) that is recycled and/or composted instead of going to landfill

Dry recyclables:  Dry materials collected for recycling e.g. - paper, card, glass, cans, plastic bottles, textiles and foil

Frequency of collection: This describes the time period between collections at the kerbside

Green & other compostable waste:  This refers to collections where garden, food and/or card are collected from the householder in the same container.

Glass diversion rate:  This represents the total diversion of glass packaging material collected via kerbside schemes and bring sites

Households served:  Number of households receiving or having access to the collection services offered by the council

Kerbside collection scheme:  The information presented for each council is for their 'main' kerbside scheme only. Authorities may also operate different schemes for some households, but this descriptive information is not been presented

Kerbside sorted:  This describes kerbside collection schemes where a household's dry recyclable materials are separated at the kerbside into different compartments/stillages on the collection vehicle

Kg hh yr:  Kilogrammes per household per year

Food waste:  This can include food wastes generated in the kitchen - we do not distinguish between raw and cooked food

Multiple methods:  This describes districts that have two or more kerbside collection schemes serving an equal proportion of households - i.e. there is no 'main' kerbside scheme

Number of bring sites:  This is the number of bring sites for Waste Collection Authorities, and includes bring and civic amenity sites for Unitary Authorities

Organic waste:  Organic materials include garden waste, food waste and card

Overall recycling:  This is the sum of kerbside and bring site recycling for both dry and organic materials

Outside search criteria:  Councils showing grey shading do not meet the selected search criteria

Organic diversion rate:  This represents the total diversion of organic materials (garden, food and card where appropriate) collected via kerbside schemes and bring sites

Organic diversion bring sites:  This represents the amount of organic materials (garden, food and card where appropriate) collected via bring sites

Organic diversion kerbside:  This represents the amount of organic materials (garden, food and card where appropriate) collected via kerbside collections

Packaging diversion rate:  This represents the total diversion of packaging materials (paper and card, glass, steel, aluminium and plastic) collected via kerbside schemes and bring sites

Paper & card diversion rate:  This represents the total diversion of paper & card packaging materials collected via kerbside schemes and bring sites

Partially sorted:  This describes kerbside collection schemes where materials from a household are collected using two or more containers. Some materials are collected separately, whilst others are collected together.

Plastic diversion rate:  This represents the total diversion of plastic packaging material collected via kerbside schemes and bring sites

Quartiles:  Quartiles are a statistical method of ranking performance.

  • Lower quartile - the lowest 25% of councils fall below this value
  • Average performance - the value which describes the middle 50% (median) performance
  • Upper quartile - the highest 25% of councils fall above this value

Residual waste:  Household waste not separated by the householder for recycling or composting

Selected:  Councils with orange shading have been selected and relate to the information displayed in the text box

Steel diversion rate:  This represents the total diversion of steel packaging material collected via kerbside schemes and bring sites

Total waste: This is the total household waste generated within and authority (so includes all kerbside collections, bring sites and civic amenity sites)

Year data relate to: This is the year the data were generated