LABOUR-run Wales celebrated World Environment Day today after being ranked second in the world for recycling rates.

The global rankings place Wales first in Britain and just behind Austria with Northern Ireland ninth, England 11th and Scotland 15th among the 48 countries included in the comparison.

The Global Recycling League Table examined the recycling performance of 48 countries, including the countries that report the highest recycling rates and many of the world’s largest economies.

Climate change cabinet secretary Huw Irranca-Davies said: “In rolling out the successful approach to household recycling to our workplaces, we are also taking action to tackle the climate and nature emergency.

“This is so important for Wales because it means capturing high-quality recycling that is fed back into the economy with a high percentage staying in Wales and the wider UK for processing.

“With the action we are already taking we are working towards challenging for the top spot.”