A Sussex council has said its residents have increased their recycling rate by nearly six per cent year-on-year.

Arun District Council has published its recycling rate for 2006/7 - despite the fact the financial year does not finish until March 31.

Its figures suggest the council is "on target" to achieve a recycling rate of 32 per cent - nearly six per cent higher than it managed in 2005/6.

The improvement is thanks to the increased awareness of what can be recycled and where, driven by schemes such as the Clean and Safe Education Programme for schools and the blue-topped kerbside recycling service.

This also means the amount of waste deposited in landfill sites subsequently decreased by nearly six per cent.

Stephen Brookman, Arun's cabinet member for the environment, said: "This is a great effort and shows that more and more residents are appreciating how vital it is that we recycle.

"It is testament to all the hard work we have put in trying to emphasise the importance of recycling to all sections of the community, educating old and young alike, that we have emerged with such encouraging results this year."

It is now easier than ever to recycle thanks largely to the kerbside blue-topped bins, which collect everyday items such as cans, tins, plastic bottles and paper. This service alone accounted for around 10,000 tonnes of the total recycled in Arun, and marked a 22 per cent increase from last year.

The Garden Waste Club - the brown bins for garden waste that are also collected - has also been a huge success, accounting for nearly 3,500 tonnes of recyclable waste: an increase of almost 33 per cent.

Coun Brookman said: "We try to make it as easy as we can for people to recycle with our kerbside recycling service.

"But it doesn't stop there. Our education programme is all about getting young people interested in recycling and encourage them to introduce it into their daily routines.

"That is the core message at the heart of our recycling campaign and I am confident it will prove to be a success, boosting our recycling rates even further in the years to come."

The Clean and Safe Education Programme, delivered by Arun's Clean and Safe team, has been visiting local schools to spread the message to local children.

This year alone the Clean and Safe Education Programme has visited over 2,600 pupils in 22 different schools, engaging children in activities designed to make them think about the important part the environment plays in our lives.

Providing talks and resources on many aspects of the environment, from recycling and littering through to anti-social behaviour in the community, the aim of the programme is to challenge pupils to take responsibility for their area and help make a difference.