RECYCLING rates in Christchurch and East Dorset have rocketed since a new scheme was introduced last year.

The Recycle for Dorset collection scheme was launched in October 2012 with residents sorting rubbish into recycling, rubbish, food waste and garden waste.

Half of East Dorset moved to the ‘recycle for Dorset’ service on 29 October with the recycling rate for the whole district rising from 42 per cent in the third and fourth quarters of 2011/12 to 50 per cent in the same period of 2012/13. This is expected to rise further after the rest of East Dorset, along with North Dorset, adopted the new service in June.

The amount of rubbish sent to landfill sites was also cut in the first six months with more than £350,000 saved on landfill tax and costs.

Steve Burdis, director of the Dorset Waste Partnership, said: “These results show the ‘recycle for Dorset’ service is working and the positive comments received from residents show it is has been welcomed by the majority.

“The service is now being used by around half the households in Dorset and will be rolled out to the rest of the county in 2014 and 2015.

“However, we recognise that this has been a significant change for residents and has not been without its teething problems. “I would like to thank residents for their patience and cooperation while the service has bedded in. Hopefully they can now see that their efforts are paying off.”