WEST Devon's house-holds throw away less rubbish than almost anywhere else in the country.

Latest government figures show that West Devon's householders throw away the fifth lowest amount of non-recyclable dustbin waste.

The annual figures, published by DEFRA, show how each council in England is performing when it comes to recycling, and the quantities of residual waste put out.

Residual waste refers to waste which cannot be recycled, composted or re-used and is put out for black sack collections.

The borough council's impressive recycling rate of 58% places it number eleven of the English collection authorities for the 2013/14 table — making it the top recycling district in the county.

It is the third year running that the borough has been the top Devon authority for recycling. 

The council has been ahead of the game for a few years with recycling, and was one of the first local authorities in the UK to collect food waste for recycling.

Food waste is collected every week in kerbside caddies and taken to a biogas plant in Holsworthy, where it is used to produce electricity for the National Grid. The residue is then given away to local farmers as a soil conditioner.

Efforts are also focused upon a strong educational programme to encourage householders to Love Food, Hate Waste and keep waste tonnages down by not overbuying.

Cllr Robert Sampson, the chairman of the community services committee at West Devon Borough Council, said: 'This achievement reflects the continuous hard work of residents and collection crews to put West Devon's performance amongst the top handful of authorities in the country.

'Despite a separate kerbside collection, in terms of weight there is surprisingly more food than any other type of waste in our black sacks.

'If all residents used this separate food waste collection service then we could be top of the table next year!'

For more information on how to reduce waste and recycle, please visit http://www.westdevon.gov.uk">www.westdevon.gov.uk or call 01803 813600