SWINDON'S recycling rate rose one per cent last year.

The rise means Swindon is recycling 15 per cent of its rubbish the best recycling authority is Litchfield in Staffordshire at 46 per cent.

But the council insists it is making progress on recycling and that the Government is changing the criteria.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs released the figures, for 2003/4, yesterday as it announced England was poised to meet its recycling target of 17 per cent.

Fylde in Lancashire made the biggest leap increasing its rate by 19 per cent. But Swindon's figures were not the worst and the Government said it would be tackling authorities with recycling rates still in single figures.

Sarah Deacon, council spokesperson, said: "As with many national figures, these do not give the true picture of Swindon. Certain items that were previously included in the recycling rate, such as soil, have now been taken out, which makes it look like we have made little progress.

"If the criteria was the same as last year our figure would have been 17.

"We are confident that the rate for 2004/2005 will be in excess of 22 per cent, reflecting the investment made by the council.

"The government has recently realised the severity of the challenge to achieve government targets and has consequently reduced target for 2005/2006 by six per cent."