This is according to a new survey undertaken by plastic recycling industry body Recoup. The study was covering 2010 and found that nearly 50 percent of all household plastic bottles were recycled. The exact figures show that 48.5 percent were collected by local authorities, that equates to 281,000 tonnes.

In addition to this, the number of non-bottle plastic recycled almost doubled from 40,000 tonnes in 2009 and 76,3000 in 2010.

Although the headline figures look positive, Recoup warned that plastic recycling was slowing. “The Recoup survey data suggests that bottle collection rates over the next five years will struggle to meet the burgeoning demand for material, while the non bottle collection rates will increase significantly, requiring urgent investment in sorting infrastructure, and further development of sustainable and auditable end markets for this fraction,” the organisation said.