More than half of household waste in East Cambridgeshire is being recycled after the introduction of wheelie bins helped boost rates.

As East Cambridgeshire District Council marks a year since wheelie bins were first delivered to households, officials say they expect recycling rates to hit 54 per cent this financial year.

This is in stark contrast to the situation in 2012/13, when the rate stood at just 34 per cent and left taxpayers in danger of a hefty fine imposed by the European Union.

According to the council, a recycling rate of 54 per cent would take the authority from the bottom quarter to the top quarter of English councils for recycling performance based on statistics from 2012/13.

Cllr Anna Bailey, chairman of the regulatory and support services committee, said: “The increase in the recycling levels across East Cambridgeshire over the last year has been nothing short of outstanding.

“Across the district, we have seen how residents have embraced the new wheeled bin service and have drastically reduced the amount of waste which is ending up in landfill.

“We should all be very proud of such an achievement and for making such rapid progress in such a short period of time.”

Looking back at 2013/14 figures, residents recycled an additional 2,147 tonnes of recyclables and 1,475 tonnes of food and garden waste compared to 2012/13. This would be enough to fill 268 refuse collection vehicles.

Over the coming weeks households across the district will receive 52 refuse sacks (two rolls of 26), which are intended to last until the next distribution in a year’s time. No further sacks will be issued until then, but additional refuse will be collected if presented for collection in suitable black refuse sacks provided by householders.

The changes to the recycling system were made possible after the district council received £5 million from the Government to fund a new recycling service and retain weekly waste collections.

For more information on the waste and recycling service in East Cambridgeshire please visit www.eastcambs.gov.uk/waste/ or call 01353 665555.