RECYCLING rates have improved, council figures show.

Rates in Brighton and Hove have increased from 26.7 per cent to 29 per cent for the same quater last year.

Announcing the figures at the environment, transport and sustainability committee, chairwoman Gill Mitchell said: “For the first quarter of this financial year, April to June, our rates have increased by 2.46 per cent on the same period last year.

“We’ve delivered 45,000 new recycling wheelie bins in the city and they are proving popular.

“This, coupled with our new garden waste collections scheme which costs residents just £1 a week, is giving people more opportunities to recycle.”

She said the local authority is not resting on its laurels and would be listening to feedback from residents.

She added: “We are taking the time to look at what works best for residents in areas such as Poets Corner to ensure those that would prefer smaller bins get them as quickly as possible.

“There is no one size fits all, and anyone who is unable to store a wheeled bin has the option to continue using black boxes. Our aim is to make it easy and convenient for people to recycle more and I’d like to thank residents for recycling.”