In fact, so successful has the alternate weekly collection of waste and recycling been that no refuse was sent to landfill at all last week - a first which could bring an annual saving of £375,000.

During the last fortnight some 61 per cent of rubbish, or about 840 tons, has been sent for recycling or composting.

The haul of garden and food waste, plastic, glass, paper and cardboard represents a near doubling of previous amounts - and the effect has been a dramatic reduction in the amount left over.

On an average week prior to the new arrangements, 600 tons was collected across the district - with roughly half going to landfill and half to a 'waste to energy' incinerator.

With all of the recycling now removed from that equation, that has plummeted to 273.5 tons per week, or 547 in the last fortnight.

The comparatively meagre amount meant all of it could sent to the waste to energy facility, between Solihull and Coventry on the A45 - leaving no landfill.


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After three weeks of complaints and criticism, Warwick District Council welcomed "great news, both for the planet, and for tax taxpayers, as landfill costs went up 33% on 1st April".

A spokesman added: "It's a fantastic effort and everyone deserves a pat on the back."

The 300 tons the authority used to send to landfill would now cost £32 per ton or £9,600 per week and £499,200 each year to bury.

Officials admit the total avoidance of landfill is unlikely in the long run, but are expecting substantial savings on the £375,000 in charges accrued last year.

The spokesman added: "The Sita UK crews have done a great job in collecting far more recyclables than could have been hoped for. In some cases this has meant working overtime and providing additional vehicles.

"It is early days, but achieving a recycling rate of over 60 % for the first set of collections is a great success and it's all down to the residents. Continuing this trend could put Warwick District in the league of top performers."

Nick Browning, General Manager for Sita UK described early results as "remarkable", while Jackie Webb, head of the district's waste management service, said: "The results speak for themselves – and it is tremendous to see the efforts residents have put into making the new service work."