Schools will no longer be forced to turn to private firms to collect their recycling.

Brighton and Hove City Council has brokered a deal with its new waste contractor Cox's Skips which means schools and colleges can now be included in regular collections.

The move follows a wave of criticism that schools were being thwarted in their efforts to educate children in the need to reduce, reuse and recycle - despite the council chasing targets to lower the amount of waste going to landfill.

Schools were being classified as commercial properties and being faced with high rates to use the recycling service which collects from other council buildings.

Many either opted not to separate waste for recycling or turned to private firms to arrange independent collections.

The new deal was backed by the council's children, families and schools committee.

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