HOUSEHOLD waste recycling centres are receiving more waste than ever before, reducing the amount of rubbish sent to landfill.

Between April and June this year, just under 70 per cent of the county's household waste was sent for re-use, recycling or composting.

More than 4,000 tonnes of green garden waste, 4,000 tonnes of wood, 1,700 tonnes of paper and card and 2,000 tonnes of electrical appliances have been sent to green centres.

In total, more than 16,000 tonnes has been diverted from landfill in the three month period. This represents a huge saving in energy and resources, including 16 million litres of water saved by recycling paper and 116 tonnes of carbon saved by recycling more than 1.5 million plastic bottles.

Derrick Ashley, executive member for waste, said: "New schemes have been introduced in the last year at the centres to allow for more wood waste, food and drinks cartons, soil and rubble, and even cooking oil to be recycled.

"However, the improvement has only been possible thanks to the efforts of residents separating their waste so they can use the many different containers and bins at the centres."

Most bulky household items can be recycled at the centres. If beyond repair, wooden furniture will be shredded and recycled into new wooden products, and all toasters, kettles and hair dryers are stripped down to their metal and plastic components and used to make new products.

For a full list of what can be recycled from the centres, and to find out what happens to these materials once they leave the sites, visit www.wasteaware.org.uk or call 0300 1234 051.