FAMILIES in the Culm Valley and surrounding areas have helped push Mid Devon into the top 10 per cent of council recycling areas in the country.

Waste and recycling rates are now at all-time high of 55.4 per cent and it has jumped 16 places in the league table since 2021-22, becoming the second-best performing district in the county.

The council not only improved its recycling rate, but the amount of residual waste had also reduced by 46 lbs per person, putting it 15th out of 210 local authorities.

The improvements follow the introduction of three-weekly waste collections in late 2022 which helped Mid Devon’s recycling rate increase by about five per cent.

Mid Devon cabinet member Cllr Josh Wright said: “It is fantastic to see these positive results and the new scheme working well to raise the district’s recycling rate.

“This is vital to supporting the district reduce its carbon footprint and meet its carbon net-zero commitment.

“There is much more that we want to do and we will be looking at options to further increase our recycling over the coming months but I would like to thank the public for their wholehearted support in helping deliver these successes.”