SUFFOLK households have been shown to be the best recyclers in the county.

Hollie-Rae Merrick

SUFFOLK households have been shown to be the best recyclers in the county.

Figures show that the region is paving the way for a greener future with recycling rates above the national average by almost seven per cent.

The new survey, conducted by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), also reveals that the nation is rapidly improving in terms of recycling.

Suffolk ranked joint first place, along with the East Midlands, for the regions recycling performance in the past year.

Statistics show that 44.5 per cent of households in the region send waste to be recycled, reused or composted - compared with London where only 29.2 per cent is recycled.

Waveney District Council appeared in the top 10 for household waste disposal with 56 per cent of waste being recycled, composted or reused.

Mid Suffolk District also proved to be full of green fingered residents, with figures showing that over 310kg of waste is collected per head - making the top ten list of individual waste collection.

Roy Barker, farmer and portfolio holder of environment for Mid Suffolk District Council, said: “I think that this issue is so important and the success of Suffolk is all due to the residents who have done all of the recycling.

“This year we have sent 16,000 tonnes less waste to landfills and that really is remarkable - that's over 1000 lorry loads.”

Dan Norris, Environment Minister for Defra, said: “These results are very encouraging and show that we're moving down the right road to becoming a zero waste nation - local authorities and individuals should be congratulated for their efforts.

“We're already pretty good - and getting better - at recycling but what we need to do now is to think about recycling what we use and reusing what we can.”

Authority Per cent of household waster recycled, reused or composted

Babergh District Council 39.77

Ipswich Borough Council 41.14

Mid Suffolk District Council 39.78

St Edmundsbury Borough Council 51.30

Suffolk Costal District Council 48.49

Waveney District Council 55.91

Suffolk's average 44.5

England's average 37.6