FAMILIES in Southend are recycling more rubbish than ever – and saving the council more than £700,000 in the process.

In the past year, the amount of rubbish recycled by householders has increased from 32 per cent to 36 per cent.

This means the council is paying out less in punitive Government landfill charges.

A recent report to the council’s economic and environmental scrutiny committee says landfill costs had reduced by £726,000, as a result of increased recycling.

The figures are for the financial year which ended in March, compared to predicted costs for the same period, outlined in budget projections.

Council leader Nigel Holdcroft said: “Clearly, recycling is something we’ve put a lot of emphasis on in the past couple of years.

“The percentage of recycled waste from domestic users has gone up dramatically, which is good because it reduces landfill charges and is good for the environment, too.

“Now we have plans to drive that significantly forward.

“I really feel we have crossed a barrier. A cross-section of Southend residents is now thinking about recycling as a matter of course.”

The Government is committed under European Union laws to reduce the amount of rubbish sent to landfill. If they fail to do so they face big fines.

Waste contractor Cory has set ambitious targets to increase recycling this autumn.

Increasing the recycling of food waste would play a key part Mr Holdcroft said.

He put the council’s success down to the “easy-to-use” pink sacks in which families can put all their recyclable waste.

He added: “Neighbouring authorities don’t have these “It means families don’t have to worry about putting different materials in different bins or sacks.

“People just have a black sack and a pink sack and they don’t take up much space.

“I would say to people in Southend – continue to recycle as much as you can.

“It saves council services and it’s good for the environment.”