RESIDENTS across Buckinghamshire have been praised as council bosses revealed the county now recycles more than half of its entire waste.

Last year, the figure stood at 47.6 per cent, but new statistics show the county’s recycling rate has now smashed through the landmark 50 per cent barrier - provisionally standing at an impressive 54per cent.

"We are thrilled that the recycling rate has increased so quickly in such a relatively short space of time," said Lesley Clarke, Chairman of the Buckinghamshire Waste Partnership.

"But this does not surprise us because we are aware of just how passionate many of our residents are to this cause. It’s down to their wonderful commitment to follow their local councils’ recycling request that this recycling revolution is really taking off.

"The officers at all the local authorities involved should be congratulated, but so should the householders who are making this all possible."

The Buckinghamshire Waste Partnership - comprising of the five local authorities in the county - has recently agreed to a revised strategy that outlines the partnership's plans to further increase performance.

"We are doing really well as a county and have made massive strides over the last few years, but it’s imperative we do even better and reach our recycling target of 60per cent by the year 2020," said Mrs Clarke.

"You simply cannot under-estimate the economic and environmental benefits. The more we can re-use and recycle, the less we need to dispose of in landfill and that is better for the taxpayers."

Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, Wycombe and South Bucks district councils along with Buckinghamshire County Council form the group dedicated to reducing waste in Buckinghamshire. The partnership strives to make it easier for residents to recycle whether it is at home or at their local Household Waste Recycling Centre.

The recent introductions of new kerbside collection schemes across the county has increased recycling rates, with all districts now offering a separate food waste collections and most able to recycle more household items, including plastic pots, tubs and trays, Tetra Pak, foil and aerosols.

For more information on reducing, re-using and recycling at home, school or in the workplace visit www.recycleforbuckinghamshire.co.uk