South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils are raising the bar on recycling, by urging residents to rethink their waste management.

Residents of these areas have been recognised as some of the most effective recyclers in England over the past decade.

In a fresh wave of environmental action, the councils are not only celebrating past successes but also looking towards the future by advocating for a shift to holistic waste management.

Part of the big plan involves encouraging people to reduce, reuse, repair, refill and rehome items, as opposed to throwing them away.

Ensuring simple and effective kerbside collections, maintaining clean public spaces, simplifying the process of reporting waste-related issues and harnessing local knowledge to enhance street cleaning are among the key actions outlined.

The councils also plan to support community litter pick-ups and make available information on local events like repair cafes.

The full joint report can be viewed here.

Cllr Sam James-Lawrie, South Oxfordshire District Council cabinet member for environment, said: "I’m proud of the fact we are the top recycling area in England.

"This rating is most of all down to the marvellous effort our residents make to recycle – but we know there is much more we can all do to reduce costs, pollute less and protect the planet.

"This is a total community effort, which needs councils, residents, visitors and businesses to all play a part.

"We’ve developed a strategy for how we can rethink waste - to help us all do more to protect our environment and keep it clean for ourselves and future generations."

Cllr Mark Coleman, Vale of White Horse cabinet member for environmental services and waste, said: "We are in an excellent position with our recycling - consistently having been in the top five ranking local authorities for recycling for a number of years now.

"This is a combination of every member of the community doing their bit and a great deal of good work from the council and its partners."

Mr Coleman further stated the councils' intention to inspire locals to reuse, repair, refill and rehome items, in a bid to create a better future for the environment.

While the councils have no plans for major changes in household waste collection, they are actively encouraging people to make the most of their possessions by expanding their lifespan and utility.

They are set to present a draft joint Waste Resources and Street Cleansing strategy to the scrutiny committee on July 15, reflecting their ongoing commitment to environmental protection.

The strategy will then be reviewed before being presented to cabinets for decision in September.