After just one week of the new recycling and waste service Tandridge residents have increased the recycling rates by almost 20%.

Most residents have been using the new food waste and recycling service and all rounds were completed.

The results for last week are impressive:

• 38 tonnes of food waste were collected, diverted from landfill and will be recycled into fertiliser and used to create electricity for peoples homes

• 82 tonnes of mixed recycling were collected, diverted from landfill and sent on its way to be recycled into new and useful products including new tins and cans, new paper and cardboard products and new plastic containers.

Councillor Tony Elias, Chairman of the Community Services Committee, which is responsible for the new recycling and waste service, said: "Thank you to all Tandridge residents who have embraced the new service, which we hope will make it much easier to recycle more materials, more easily from home. As residents get used to the service, we expect our recycling rate to increase. Please do recycle as much as you can."

The Recycling Team is reminding residents to:

• Put all their food waste, recycling or general waste out for collection by 6am on their collection day.

• Put their food waste and recycling at the edge of their property, general waste is collected from between the back door and the edge of property.

• Only use compostable bags in the food caddies – a list of local suppliers is available on www.tandridge.gov.uk/bags. Local shops supplying compostable food caddy bags can be added to this list by contacting the Council.

Anyone not sure about their collection days or dates can look them up on www.tandridge.gov.uk/collectiondates.

Work is continuing to help residents who live in flats to arrange recycling facilities suitable for their particular circumstances.

Residents received a user guide full of information about the new service and what can be recycled, with their new containers. More details are available on www.tandridge.gov.uk/recyclingandwaste, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01883 722000.