An increase of up to 45% in recycling has been recorded over the Christmas period in North Somerset.

Research across the country suggests a 20% increase in the amount of recycling presented as a result of Christmas, but up to 45% is unprecedented said Cllr Peter Bryant, North Somerset Council's executive member for waste and recycling, adding that extra resources had been made available to cope with the expected increase. 

Eight additional vehicles have been used to collect cardboard and there have been big increases in the amount of food waste and glass put out on the kerbside for collection.

The amount of cardboard packaging is the main reason for the large increase in tonnages. Yesterday for example, 166 tonnes of recyclables was collected whereas on a normal Monday 115 tonnes would be picked up.

"We will collect your recycling as quickly as we can," said Cllr Bryant. "The recycling trucks are having to make extra journeys to the depot to unload, mainly because of the volume of cardboard, which obviously eats into the crews collecting time.

"We even had seven crews out working on New Year's Day. Bearing in mind that one two-man crew collected over eight tonnes of recyclables in a day, when on a normal day they would expect to collect three and a half tonnes, shows the levels of recycling we are dealing with."

All waste collections are up to date but the volume of recycling has meant that some recycling collections are on average up to a day behind.

Cllr Bryant added: "I would like to thank all our residents for taking up the recycling message so strongly. Recycling means we are diverting wastefrom landfill, which is kinder to the environment and saves us money in landfill taxes."