UTTLESFORD has become one of the best performing districts in the country for recycling according to official results. Out of 273 local authorities with responsibility for bin collections, Uttlesford District Council has the second highest rate in the cou

UTTLESFORD has become one of the best performing districts in the country for recycling according to official results.

Out of 273 local authorities with responsibility for bin collections, Uttlesford District Council has the second highest rate in the country for collecting dry recycling according to the latest figures from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Impressive figures have also been recorded in all other areas measured in the 2007/08 national recycling league tables as Uttlesford's finished in the top 10 for all types of recycling.

Cllr Susan Barker, chairman of the Environment Committee, said: "These latest figures show that the residents of Uttlesford are recycling more and more waste and it is a fantastic achievement.

"Less than half of all household waste is now being sent to landfill, which is of course excellent news for the environment.

"This council is not however content to rest on its laurels and we are looking to see how we can improve our recycling service even further.

"At next week's Environment Committee meeting, members will be discussing whether we should introduce a trial of smaller 'caddies' in place of the current kitchen waste brown bins. It may be that residents will find them more convenient and having a smaller food waste bin may encourage people who are not currently recycling all that they should, to do so.

"If committee members agree the trial should go ahead, we would be starting a six-month pilot in January in a selected area of the district."

The three-bin recycling system was introduced in 2006 and because of its success, Uttlesford District Council has leaped from 197th (in 2005/06) to 6th for its overall recycling rate.

The council is also continuing to ask the county council for additional financial support for the recycling scheme due to its success.

Cllr Barker added: "We have already been successful in securing £100,000 of capital funding this year and the council will continue to do all that it can to secure extra investment.