15/11/10…..Nationwide award for best recycling rate

SOUTH Oxfordshire District Council has scooped a national award for the most improved recycling rate. The council was announced as the winner of the Best Improved Recycling Rate at the LARAC awards, which are designed to recognise the work carried out by councils and recycling officers across the county in reducing waste and driving up recycling rates.

The award was for increasing the recycling rate from 44 per cent to 64 per cent between April 2009 and 2010. This included ten months of the council?s new waste service, which was introduced in June last year. During the first 12 months of the new service, the council?s recycling rate has risen even further to 70 per cent on average – thought to be the best in England.

Cllr David Dodds, Cabinet Member responsible for waste services, who picked up the award at a ceremony in Liverpool last week, said: “Our recycling rate is a fantastic achievement for the council, our contractors and everyone involved in planning and delivering our waste service and I was proud to pick up this award on their behalf.

“More importantly it is an accolade for our residents who have really embraced the new service and the opportunity to recycle more and reduce the amount of rubbish that we send to landfill. I would like to thank them again for their efforts and encourage them to keep up their good work.”

Roger Edwards, Verdant managing director, added his congratulations, saying: ?This award is recognition for the vision of the council, the hard work of Verdant staff, and the all-important enthusiastic support of local residents.?

The new waste service features a weekly collection of food waste and fortnightly collections of rubbish and recycling on alternate weeks. As well as collecting food waste separately for the first time in Oxfordshire – which alone has helped divert tonnes of waste from landfill – the new service has also enabled residents to recycle more items at the kerbside such as glass, aerosols, foil and food and drinks cartons.

As well as leading to an improved recycling rate, the service, which is being run jointly with the Vale of White Horse District Council, is also helping both councils to save money. In its first year, it is estimated to have saved South Oxfordshire around