Families have been praised for recycling rubbish as the Cannock district has one of the highest rates across the country. Cannock Chase Council is publishing its new refuse collection calendar in November.

It will be delivered to households across the area before December.

Because more people are taking part in compost recycling with the collections of green and brown bins, the service is now being realigned so the whole district will have the same colour bin collected each week.

The new Green For Go calendars will detail the revised dates. Information stickers will also be handed out for people to put on their bins reminding them of what can and cannot be put inside.

The district’s recycling rate now stands at 45 per cent which is an increase of 35 per cent in just over two years.

Read the full story in today’s Express & Star.

Families have been praised for recycling rubbish as the Cannock district has one of the highest rates across the country. Cannock Chase Council is publishing its new refuse collection calendar in November.

It will be delivered to households across the area before December.

Because more people are taking part in compost recycling with the collections of green and brown bins, the service is now being realigned so the whole district will have the same colour bin collected each week.

The new Green For Go calendars will detail the revised dates. Information stickers will also be handed out for people to put on their bins reminding them of what can and cannot be put inside.

The district’s recycling rate now stands at 45 per cent which is an increase of 35 per cent in just over two years.

Councillor Tony Williams, the district council’s environment leader, said: “Thanks to residents’ support and effort, we are now one of the leading councils in the country when it comes to recycling.

“This is a tremendous achievement given that we were one of the lowest performing authorities early in 2005.

“On behalf of the council I would once again like to express my gratitude to members of the public who have put us in such a fantastic position.”

A request for the fortnightly bin collection to revert to a weekly service for household rubbish over Christmas was scrapped by ruling councillors.

Labour councillors had asked the district council’s cabinet to look at altering the service at a cost of £12,000, but it refused the request.

Council leader Neil Stanley accused the Labour contingent of “playing a silly political game” and said the proposal was “insane”.

Labour councillor Gordon Alcott expressed his anger at the decision and said he was bitterly disappointed.

Calls for a weekly service last Christmas also failed and complaints followed about heaving bins and the fact wrapping paper was not taken away with recycling because of the dyes and inks it contained.

More information on recycling in the district is available from the district council on 01543 462621.

By Michelle Pearson