An increasing number of people are recycling their waste since wheelie bins were introduced in the borough.

Gravesham’s recycling rates have risen from 24% to 36% since bins were introduced, the council has revealed.

The area had one of the worst performing councils in the country when it came to recycling and it was hoped the introduction of wheelie bins and a food caddy would improve those figures.

Gravesham council received almost £5m after bidding to the government’s Weekly Collection Support Scheme and provided bins to about 80% of residents.

The collections started in June.

A report before councillors on Monday stated: “These early figures show a very promising start for the new service and residents are to be congratulated in adapting so well to the new service so quickly.”

Contamination rates – where items are rejected from the recycling process – are also down from 4% to 2%.

The report continues: “The introduction of the food waste collection service has been a huge success and residents have embraced this aspect of the new service with great enthusiasm.

“Current figures show that residents are recycling more than 65 tonnes of food waste every week.

“The food waste collected goes to make compost which is mainly used by local farmers and keeping this volume of food waste out of the black sack waste is having a very positive impact on street cleanliness as far fewer black sacks are ripped open by animals attracted to the food in those sacks.”

In the UK, it is believed some 4.4 million tonnes of food are thrown out every year, costing around £12 billion.

The garden waste collection service has also seen an increase with 941 new customers and the total number of accounts now stands at more than 4,800.

The council will now be looking at rolling out recycling bins for flats next year and the introduction of wheelie bins for general waste the year after.