RECYCLING-conscious West Devon residents, who now save around 60% of their domestic waste from landfill every week, are being asked an extra favour by the borough council.

Thousands of cans and tins are collected from recycling boxes by the council every day but sometimes the can and tin lids can end up on the pavement. Recycling officers are asking residents to put the lids inside the cans, if possible, before they are squashed down.

Cllr Robert Oxborough, chairman of the council's environment and community committee said: 'Residents are doing a fantastic job of sorting their waste for recycling and this is reflected in the figures we are seeing. 

'However, we are finding with more cans than ever being recycled, we are getting a few of the very light and flimsy lids ending up on pavements and the floor of the recycling depot.

 'We have asked our contractor to be mindful of this and appeal to residents to put the lids back into the rinsed cans before squashing.

'This will help solve the problem and keep costs for council tax payers down.'