Southend residents recycle more than half their waste!

The terrific total was totted up in July with a record 50.38 per cent recycling rate. This was up from 46.9 per cent the month before and 46.7 per cent for the same period last year.  

July's performance is the best residents have ever achieved in a single month, with more than half of all waste collected, being recycled or composted.  

The 50.38 per cent recycling rate includes material collected in: 

• pink recycling sacks,
• clear textile recycling sacks,
• blue food waste collection bins,
• garden waste collections
• the bring banks located around the borough
• Household Waste Recycling Centres.  

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Public Protection, Waste and Transport, Councillor Tony Cox said: "The 50.38 per cent recycling rate reached in July reflects the range of recycling services available to Southend residents, and their willingness to use them.

"It is great to see recycling rates go up each year and the amount of waste sent to landfill is reducing.

The launch of the blue food waste bin scheme in 2008 boosted the recycling rate from 39.8 per cent to 45.1 per cent.  

"With residents now recycling over half of their waste - and with their ongoing support - we are well on the way to reaching our 60 per cent recycling rate target by 2015. 

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank residents for continuing to use Southend's recycling services and ask them to keep up the good work!"