Dartford has been branded the worst in the county for its recycling rates - but it's defiant in the face of criticism.

Statistics released by Defra (the Department for Environment, food and Rural Affairs) show the borough is one of the worst in the region for recycling.

Just 25.6% of household waste was sent for re-use, recycling or composting in the area in 2015/16.

Perhaps more shockingly, it's in the top three for the poorest recycling authorities in the South East - out of 73.

It's been a rollercoaster ride for the council - since 2013/14, Dartford's recycling rate has dropped from 26.6% to its current rate, peaking at just 27.6% in the financial year 2014/15.

It's one of just seven so-called red zones with recycling rates under 30% in the South East, and the only one in Kent, statistics from SUEZ (Suez Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd) show.

But Dartford council has hit back, saying that the real environmental issue is landfill, not recycling.

A Dartford council spokesman said: "In terms of our responsibility to the environment, it is not underlined by recycling rather the amount that goes to landfill.

"The latest statistics show that only 0.25% of waste in Dartford went to landfill (it's usually around 1%), whereas this is much higher for other councils who may have a better recycling rate.

"To up our recycling rate we could have less services or less bin collections, which is normally what other councils with higher rates do.

"We measure our success by the service we provide.

"A few years ago we had a vote in the borough on whether people would rather have more bin collections or a better recycling rate and they opted for more bin collections.

"We unashamedly have a different approach to recycling: we understand it's good for a moral purpose but if truly concerned by the environment, landfill is the issue and we have a different criteria to other councils."

At the other end of the scale, Ashford is hitting highs - with a recycling rate of 53.1% in 2015/16 - a far cry from its rate of 14% in 2011/12 which saw the borough branded as the country's worst for recycling.

Its current rate, however, is more than 10% above the county's average of 40%.

Cllr Clair Bell, Ashford's portfolio holder for borough presentation, said: “Ashford residents are doing a tremendous job at recycling and recent figures have placed us top in Kent, but it is very important that we work hard to maintain, and where possible, improve this level.

“We hope targeted communications will help our residents receive relevant information

and advice so they understand how to recycle smart and help the borough continue with

its excellent recycling progress made so far.”

Also faring well are Maidstone Borough Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Shepway District Council, each with 47.8%, 45.6% and 44% respectively.

Since 2013/14, the most improved area in Kent is Ashford, increasing its rate by 11.2%

The area which has seen the biggest decrease, however, is Canterbury, with recycling rates having dropped by 5.3% from 48.5% to 43.2%.

Gravesham also saw a noticeable change, with the area's recycling rate going up a massive 10.5% from 24.5% in 2013/14 to 35% in 2015/16.

The split between areas which have seen a rise and decrease is fairly even in Kent, with seven areas with higher recycling rates since 2013/14 and six with lower.