Ref. 29660-25THE residents of Liden and Eldene are proving to be lean, green recycling machines.

In just over six months the people in the two areas have saved more than £1,000 in landfill tax through the kerbside recycling scheme.

For every ton of material collected for recycling, rather than for dumping at a landfill site, Swindon Council saves £14 in landfill tax.

The scheme has been running since 2001 and is operating across the borough.

But the residents in Liden and Eldene seem to be doing particularly well.

On average 5.75 tons of paper are collected from individual areas in the borough each month.

But recent figures show that Liden and Eldene residents are now collecting more than 16 tons each month, the most in Swindon.

Residents collect materials for recycling and put them in a black box provided by the council.

Collections take place every fortnight.

Materials suitable for collection include newspapers, magazines, junk mail, directories and cardboard.

Ward councillor Gunter Gussefeld (Con, Dorcan) is championing the recycling cause in the area.

He is also the chairman of the council's waste management task group and is keen for residents to keep up their good work because landfill tax is set to rise by £1 on April 1.

He said: "I am very pleased with the way recycling is going.

"I would like to see it extended further because currently only half the houses in Liden and Eldene receive the service."

Rosina Allen, of Ridge Nether Moor, Liden, said: "I think it's a good scheme and it's one I'm happy to take part in.

"I'm glad it's been so successful and I hope it continues to be.

"I know we're making good money by saving our paper and packaging.

"I enjoy doing something good for the environment and hope that even more people will join the scheme."

Geoff Davies, of Swindon Services' waste management team, said: "The mission of the recycling round is to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill sites, thereby conserving precious natural resources.

"This also saves on scarce landfill capacity and the consequent methane emissions generated from landfill.

"We would like to see even more people getting involved in our recycling schemes.

"Less energy is needed to recycle than to produce products from raw materials.

"Of all the recyclables, paper-based products are the most effective for recycling.

"You can now recycle more types of paper in the council's black boxes, including cereal boxes and cardboard packaging.

"More locations are due to be earmarked for recycling in the future due to this success."

Kerbside recycling also takes place across the borough in another 15 areas ranging from Haydon Wick to Wanborough.

Emma-Kate Lidbury