Rochford District Council’s Recycling team has gained national recognition after being shortlisted for a National Recycling Award.

The Council has been nominated in the Local Authority Target Success category at the awards, which recognise the highest achieving local authorities across the country. The awards aim to reward councils and boroughs which have achieved high levels of waste reduction and that have excelled with their recycling and waste minimisation targets. The period to be judged will be from April 2008 to March 2009.

Rochford District Council launched its new Maximise Recycling Scheme on 21st July 2008. The new scheme saw the expansion of the range of materials that could be collected from the kerbside, increasing the councils recycling rates from below 20% to nearly 70%.

The awards ceremony will take place on 27th October.

Portfolio Holder for Environment Councillor Michael Starke said: “It’s a fantastic achievement to have been shortlisted for the award and we’re proud to have been recognised for the work we have put in. However, it’s also important to note this particular category recognises levels of waste reduction, so it is a great credit to the residents of the Rochford District who have helped make this scheme such a success.”