The amount of plastics recycled by South Gloucestershire residents has shot up by over a third since the improved recycling service started earlier this year.

The total amount of plastic recycled in April/May 2014 reached 374 tonnes – 35% more than the 276 tonnes collected in April/May the previous year.

The increase follows the expansion of kerbside recycling services to include plastic pots, tubs and punnets, tetrapaks and small electrical items.

Lib Dem Chair of the Council’s Communities Committee, Claire Young, said: “This is great news all round. It is good for the environment and means that we will now spend less local taxpayers’ money on sending rubbish to landfill. South Gloucestershire now has one of the best recycling rates of any local authority.”   

“It’s great to see that local residents’ have embraced the new recycling service so enthusiastically. Increasing the number of items that can be recycled was a key Lib Dem pledge at the last Council elections in 2011 and I’m very pleased we have been able to deliver this for local residents.”