Key Data (Environment, State of the South West 2011)
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> Just over 2.7 million tonnes of municipal waste (waste collected by local authorities, mainly domestic in nature) was collected in the South West during 2009 / 2010, 10.3% of the English total of 26.5 million tonnes (Defra, 2010).
> Municipal waste in the region was 3.2% (90 thousand tonnes) lower than the 2.8 million tonnes in 2008 / 2009; 8.7% lower than the peak of almost 3 million tonnes collected in 2004 / 2005, but now only 2.2% greater than in 2000 / 2001 (Defra, 2010).
> Since 2002 / 2003 the quantity of waste from regular household collection has decreased every year. In 2009 / 2010 the South West collected 531 thousand tonnes less than in 2002/2003 and now stands at 1.1 million tonnes. In the same time frame, household recycling experienced a corresponding increase of 592 thousand tonnes (Defra, 2010).
> The South West landfilled 54.3% (1.5 million tonnes) of municipal waste in 2009/2010. This was the second highest
proportion recorded by an English region and seven percentage points higher than the National rate (Defra, 2010).
> The South West had the 3rd highest household recycling rate in England, (43.5% in 2009/2010) behind the East
(46.1%) and East Midlands (45.6%). This rate has increased significantly from 14.9% in 2000/2001 (Defra,2010). Around 204,000 properties are at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea in the South West, of which 116,000 (57%) are residential and 68,000 (33%) commercial properties. 82% of the residential properties and 66% of commercial properties are in high risk systems. (Environment Agency, 2010).
> In 2009, 9% (provisional figure) of new dwellings were built within areas of high flood risk in the South West. This was below the English average of 11% the highest recorded region was London with 23% (Defra).
> The Environment Agency lodged objections to 7,323 planning applications in England on the grounds of flood risk in 2009/2010 up from 5,198 in 2008/2009. Of these, 1,075 objections were in the South West, accounting for almost 15% of the national total.
> Global average temperatures have risen by nearly 0.8oC since the late 19th century, rising at about 0.2oC/decade over the past 25 years (UKCIP). Annual average daily mean temperature in the South West increased by 1.37°C between 1961 and 2006, similar to annual trends in London, South East and East of England (UKCIP).
> Between 1961 and 2006 there has been increased seasonal and annual total precipitation in the South West, with the largest increase seen in autumn (28.6%) (UKCIP).
> Absolute sea level (i.e. corrected for land movement) around the South West has risen by around 1 mm/yr over the 20th century.
> Current Water Framework Directive assessments show that 33% of surface waters are at good or better ecological status/potential and 51% are at good or better biological status. As biological monitoring continues it is likely that the percentage of water bodies at good or better biological status will change from 51% to 47%. Interim classification for 2010 shows 26% of river lengths as good, 55% as moderate, 18% poor and 1% bad. (Environment Agency).
> In 2010, 97.4% of bathing waters in the South West met mandatory water quality standards and 92% meeting the more stringent EU guideline standards (Environment Agency, 2010).
> According to water company returns, an average of 48% of properties in the South West had water meters in 2008/09; water companies plan to increase metering to an average of 66% by 2015/16. As the number of properties with water meters rises, water consumption is predicted to fall from 152 litres/head/day in 2006/07 to 144 l/h/d in 2015/16 (Ofwat, 2009).
