New recycling record for the city

Oxford’s recycling rate had remained at about 38 per cent for the past two years, but in October it rose to 47 per cent, the highest it has ever been.

The national average is 35 per cent.

A new weekly food waste collection and a single bin for other recyclables introduced in October had driven improvements, said city councillor John Tanner.

He added: “I am thrilled and want to say a big thank you to everyone in Oxford.

“People are really playing their part with the food waste and the blue wheelie bins. Now I want a Christmas present of a 50 per cent recycling rate.”

Steve Woodley, a recycling and waste operative at Oxford City Council, said: “We have definitely seen an increase in the amount of recycling since the blue bins were introduced.”

Yet there are fears that plans to charge £35 a year for green waste collections from April will hit efforts.

Liberal Democrat councillor Jean Fooks said charging for green waste collections could hit the recycling rate and called for two free green bag collections every year.

She said: “At least the rate is going up but it is still not great compared with surrounding districts.”

Elsewhere in the county, South Oxfordshire leads the way, recycling 70 per cent of its waste. Cherwell recycles 51 per cent and West Oxfordshire 34 per cent.

The Vale district’s recycling rate had been 36 per cent, but 83 per cent of waste was recycled during the first two weeks of its new system, which collects general and recyclable waste on alternate weeks.

West Oxfordshire also changed its system in November.

Alternative collections were introduced in Oxford in 2007, when the recycling rate was 19 per cent.

The blue bin takes glass, paper, cardboard, cans, plastics and Tetra-Pak containers.

cburatta@oxfordmail.co.uk