THE green waste doorstep collection scheme operated by Epping Forest Council which finishes this Friday has been hailed as a "phenomenal success" with an estimated 3,500 tonnes recycled.

Last year some 2,500 tonnes of domestic green waste was diverted from the household waste stream.

The scheme is scheduled to start again on May 11, and will run for seven months. The date will be confirmed when the next recycling calendar is delivered to homes next April.

Environmental protection portfolio holder Derek Jacobs thanked residents for their efforts and added: "This tonnage will go a long way to helping the district in reaching its recycling target, which has been set by the government, of 28 per cent by the year 2003.

"Last year the district's residents contributed to the overall figure of 18.6 per cent of its domestic waste recycled. This is one of the best figures in the whole of the county and we thank them for their enthusiasm."

November 27, 2001 13:07