RECYCLING is on the up in the Suffolk Coastal district, according to new figures released today.The amount of paper, garden waste, bottles, cans and other materials recycled in the district rose to well over 30 per cent in April and May.

RECYCLING is on the up in the Suffolk Coastal district, according to new figures released today.

The amount of paper, garden waste, bottles, cans and other materials recycled in the district rose to well over 30 per cent in April and May.

During the year from April 2003 to March 2004, an average 22 per cent of household waste was recycled, but in April this year that rose to 31 per cent.

Unconfirmed figures suggest it rose to around 34 per cent in May.

Andrew Nunn, cabinet member for the environment, said: "This is a massive achievement by local residents and I would like to thank everyone who has got into the recycling habit.

"We have brought in major expansions to our services over the last 12 months to make it easier for people to recycle and it really appears to be paying off now.

"The official target for the district for the year to March 2005 is 32 per cent, which is a tough goal but our residents have made us recycle our record books in the last couple of months, and if more people get into the recycling habit I am sure we will beat it."

In the last 12 months, Suffolk Coastal has expanded its fortnightly paper collection service to every home in the district, and can now collect garden waste from over 30,000 homes.

It has also expanded its network of mini-recycling centres and encouraged the use of cloth nappies instead of disposables.

Anyone who wants more information about how they can recycle can call 01394 444000, visit the Council's website www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk or see the special two page feature in next month's edition of CoastLine, Suffolk Coastal's magazine.