RESIDENTS in Colchester are recycling more than ever.

Half-year figures, published by Colchester Council, show a rate of 49.32 per cent for the first six months of the 2014/15 financial year, which began in April.

It means the full-year target of 48 per cent looks set to be surpassed.

In the previous year, Colchester residents recycled 45.5 per cent of waste, up 1.8 per cent on 2012/13.

Although the borough remained second bottom of the countywide recycling league table, the council was one of only four to report an increase.

The rise has been put down partly to many people recycling food waste, which previously would have been sent to landfill.

The amount of garden waste, paper and plastics being recycled has increased, while can recycling is roughly the same and glass recycling slightly decreased.

In the first six months of 2014/15, 1,700 tonnes of food waste was collected.

Nick Barlow, Colchester councillor responsible for waste, said: “I am encouraged so many residents are making good use of the service, and that six months after starting the food waste collection we reported a recycling rate of 49 per cent.

“With residents able to quickly and easily recycle all food waste in their collection, I hope everyone continues to make the most of it.”