What do only Germans and Singaporeans do better than the Welsh?

The Welsh are the third best recycling nation in the whole world.

According to new research, only the Germans and Singaporeans can best Welsh people at throwing away the least amount of household waste.

But young people may be holding the nation back, with a third admitting they don’t recycle food waste.

The reasons for the success are the Welsh Government moving towards a 70 per cent recycling target, and Welsh councils being set binding targets.

The new figures show around 60% of Welsh people recycle their waste, compared to just over 60% in Singapore and around 65% in Germany.

The UK as a whole is in 16th place, and the USA is in bottom position, just head of Hong Kong.

Around three quarters (73%) of the population said they recycle food waste.

Caernarfon woman Rhian Green is leading the campaign to increase the amount of unavoidable food waste that goes to anaerobic digestion across Wales.

The all-inclusive recycling rate in Gwynedd is currently 59%, with 58% of people recycling their food waste.

Watch this DIY potato planter made out out of gas bottles and a child’s bike

New research from Recycle for Wales found young people could be holding the nation back when it comes to recycling.

More than four in 10 (43%) 18-24 year olds and a third (34%) of 25-34 year olds admit to not recycling their food waste. A further 13% of 25-34 year olds have never tried the food recycling service provided by their local council.

Older age groups are leading the way with food waste recycling. Nearly all (95%) of 65s and over claim they do recycle their food waste.

When asked by Recycle for Wales about the most off-putting factors of food waste recycling, 39% agreed that it’s too messy or smelly. In addition, 30% of Welsh people are choosing not to recycle their food waste as they don’t believe they are producing enough to warrant the recycling effort.

Recycling champion Rhian Green, who works as a translator, said: “I find food recycling so much cleaner and more hygienic compared to throwing food in the waste bin where it can sit for a week. There are no horrible smells when you recycle food, and I clean the caddy with washing up liquid each time I change the liner. I love knowing that my bits of egg shell or tea bags are creating electricity right here in Gwynedd – it’s brilliant!”

According to Recycle for Wales – recycled energy can power nights out and nights in – nine recycled banana peels could generate enough electricity to fully charge a laptop. It takes just 10 small caddies full of food waste to power a DJ set for over an hour. Ten caddies of food could also power up a cinema screen at Pontio in Bangor for two hours – enough to watch this weekend’s big new release