A council has launched a campaign to make residents more aware of the full range of items they can recycle.

St Albans City and District Council surveyed about 7,000 residents about their recycling habits with under half not knowing they could recycle yoghurt pots and 38 percent admitting they did not place microwave food trays in their boxes.

Cabinet heard the council’s recycling communications will focus on raising residents’ awareness about the full range of materials that can be recycled in a bid to increase its household recycling rate to more than 60 percent.

Councillor Daniel Chichester-Miles, Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: “This survey shows that almost all residents are using the recycling service. I want to thank these residents for their efforts.

“The survey also shows that there is scope for people to recycle a lot more. I am keen to let people know they can now recycle yoghurt pots and microwave food trays.

“But the best thing they can do is put food waste in their green wheelie bin so that it can be sent for composting rather than landfill.”

Visit www.stalbans.gov.uk for more information about recycling.