A council has thanked residents for their efforts after it was named as the top performing authority in England for household recycling and composting.

Three Rivers District Council, which has been in the top ten recycling authorities for the past ten years, recorded a recycling rate of 63.5% for 2021/2022 up by 0.4% in 2020/2021.

Watford Observer: Three Rivers District Council bin collectionThree Rivers District Council bin collection (Image: Three Rivers District Council)

Organic waste, such as garden and food waste, made up 52.1% per cent of the council’s total household recycling tonnage.

Councillor Phil Williams, the council’s lead member for environmental services and sustainability, said: “We have to thank our residents in a great way, because they really understand the importance of recycling and are dedicated to it.

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“The council as a whole has such a strong ethos of sustainability, our staff working tirelessly make sure bins are collected, avoiding contamination.”

Leader of the council, councillor Sarah Nelmes added: “Recycling and composting are so vital in our effort to keep resources in use for longer as we work to protect our planet.”

In the figures published on March 24 by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, South Oxfordshire District Council had the second highest recycling rate at 62.7% and St Albans City and District Council came in a close third at 62.4%.