HOUSEHOLDERS and property owners have pushed East Ayrshire to one the country’s best recyclers.

An annual report issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) confirms that the region is well above the national average.

SEPA published the report on the 2016 calendar year summary of household waste, which also revealed that overall, Scots are recycling more.

The report detailed the quantity of household waste generated, recycled and sent to landfill for each local authority — and this area has performed very well.

East Ayrshire recycled 53.3 per cent of household waste, which is significantly higher than the average recycling rate of 45.2 per cent.

Even better news, East Ayrshire is only sending 36.2 per cent of waste to landfill compared to the national figure of 45.3.

Council leader Douglas Reid said: “Over the past six years the council has developed a recycling and waste collection strategy which has focused on providing our communities with a full range of kerbside recycling.

“We have seen a huge change in public attitudes, with our residents really getting behind the recycling service. The demand for recycling from home has increased significantly and with this in mind we are going to be making further improvements in the coming months.

“East Ayrshire will be the first authority in Scotland to introduce an innovative recycling trolley which will allow waste management services to roll out weekly recycling collection.

“I am confident that our residents will benefit from the new weekly service and that the new system will stop waste being sent to landfill.”

The trolley, which will replace the blue bin, will allow paper, card, glass, cans and household plastics and cartons to be stacked and wheeled to the pavement together.

A letter will be issued to all householders shortly explaining the new recycling service.

Details, including frequently asked questions, will also be available on the council’s website in the coming weeks and waste management services will be available to answer any questions — e-mail waste@east-ayrshire.gov.uk or call 01563 554033.