Local Authorities across Suffolk today reassured residents that they should continue to recycle and compost as much as possible despite some national media reports that other authorities across the country are having to rethink their collection systems in light of the worsening markets for recyclate.

The Suffolk councils have received a reassurance from Viridor, the company responsible for the processing and marketing most of the material recovered for recycling in the county, that, "In spite of the worsening economic climate, there are no plans to stockpile or otherwise dispose of materials . However, the market in recyclables is an international one and so not immune to trading conditions and Viridor Waste Management and the Suffolk councils are closely monitoring the situation as it develops."

In Suffolk, the message is clear, continue to recycle and compost as much as you can at the kerbside, at the Household Waste Recycling Centres and at your local bring site. All the materials collected through these systems in Suffolk continue to be recycled and composted and are closely audited by the Environment Agency to ensure that they are properly reprocessed, have an end market and will not end up in landfill sites.

The Suffolk Waste Partnership, made up of the county council and the seven district and borough councils, recently announced that residents had helped them bring the county's recycling and composting rate to above 50% for the first time. The partnership continues to strive to get ever closer to the Suffolk target of 60% of waste being recycled/ composted and recognises that continued public support is key to achieving that. Suffolk is in a good position compared to other authorities at the moment as it has end markets for its recycling material, so it is important that residents continue to recycle and compost everything they can.

Councillor Andrew Nunn said on behalf of the Suffolk Waste Partnership says, "Recycling makes a vital contribution to tackling climate change and Suffolk becoming the greenest county. Residents' efforts have significantly reduced the amount of waste that is landfilled in Suffolk by more than 6% compared with last year. It is vital that we do not stop our hard work now."