It's official - Somerset recycles more than it landfills. Thank you to all our residents!

5.06.50pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 28th May 2008

Hazel gets stuck in - as always!

The 2007/8 figures show that Somerset's residents have taken on board the reduce, re-use, and recycle message from Somerset's Waste Action Partnership. We are now recycling a staggering 51% of our household waste! This saves around a tonne of waste going into landfill every four minutes (and saves a landfill tax of £32 per tonne) and puts the county in the top league, not only nationally, but across the world.

The Liberal Democrat administration at County Hall is especially delighted to have been so successful in fulfilling their 2005 manifesto pledge 'to meet and exceed a target of 40%' recycling. Their ambition to form a Joint Waste Board, along with the five district authorities was ground-breaking in itself and local people have responded brilliantly to the 'Sort-It' and now 'Sort-It Plus' doorstep collection campaigns.

Hazel Prior-Sankey, the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Transport, Planning and Waste, said of the news:

"The Liberal Democrat councillors at County Hall won the national party's first 'green council group' award in 2003 and have championed environmental issues ever since. I am proud that this achievement will once again put Somerset on the map and shows what can be done when we all work together."

ENDS.