Recycling rate trebles in Borders

The latest recycling figures have been welcomed by the council

Recycling rates from homes in the Scottish Borders have almost trebled in the space of a year.

The latest quarterly figures showed that residents recycled 29.93% of waste - compared to 10.4% for the same quarter last year.

The authority aims to increase last year's overall recycling rate of 15.9% to 25% this year.

The authority's waste strategy manager Julie Rankine said she was delighted with the progress being made.

Every household in the region can now recycle paper, cardboard, cans and plastic bottles each week.

This means that waste which once would have gone to landfill is being processed and made into new products.

To reach its annual target of 25% the quarterly figures for the summer months need to be above that level.

"We seem to be on course for meeting this target, but we all need to keep the momentum going," said Ms Rankine.