New figures show 30 per cent of rubbish taken to household waste sites in East Sussex is being recycled.

East Sussex County Council hopes to raise the figure to 35 per cent by April next year by educating people about the benefits of using recycling facilities.

Heathfield had the best household recycling rate, with 50 per cent.

Newhaven came second with 39 per cent and Wadhurst third with 38 per cent.

Green campaigners say recycling is the best way to ensure controversial plans to build incinerators at North Quay, Newhaven, and Mountfield Mine, near Robertsbridge, do not go ahead.

Campaigner Christine Sinclair said: "Although I applaud all increases in recycling, the council should remove incinerators from its waste plan and push for a zero-waste system like they have in Canberra, Australia."

Councillor Anthony Reid, lead Cabinet member for transport and environment, said: "We have to stop sending so much rubbish to landfill.

"After reducing the amount of rubbish we create or reusing it, recycling is the next best way of dealing with it.

"We all have responsibility for the waste we create and residents who use recycling facilities are showing they are aware of that and doing something practical to help make a difference."