County enjoys recycling success

The UK has one of the worst recycling records in the EU

For the first time ever Cambridgeshire residents have recycled more rubbish than was sent to landfill sites.

From April to June 2006, 51% of rubbish was recycled in the county, rising to 55% in some districts.

Redirecting rubbish away from landfill sites avoids the council being fined by the government.

The county council and its partners have also launched a waste prevention campaign to cut the amount of unwanted material produced in the first place.

County councillor John Reynolds said: "The costs of landfilling waste are rising every year, with the landfill tax running at £18 per tonne and due to increase by £3 per tonne per year.

Last year the County Council had to spend over £7.3m dumping waste in landfills - £771,000 of that in government taxes."