Boxes, bags, and bins are helping more people recycle in the region

Two councils from the region came in the national top 10 with Daventry second and Melton seventh. But only three perform worse than Kettering.

England is set to meet a recycling and composting target of 17% this year, but still lags behind most of Europe.

The latest figures for local authority recycling and composting rates during 2003/04 were released on Tuesday.

Residents in Daventry are recycling 42% of their household waste, such as paper, glass, cans and plastic - the highest rate in the region.

LOWEST RECYCLING RATES IN THE EAST MIDLANDS North East Derbyshire ( 11%) High Peak borough ( 9%) Corby borough ( 9%) Nottingham city ( 9%) Mansfield district ( 9%) Bolsover district ( 8%) Newark & Sherwood district ( 8%) Kettering borough ( 5%)

And those in Boston, Lincs, made the biggest improvement in the region over the last 12 months. Nearly 20% of household waste is recycled or composted, compared with only 7% per cent in 2002/03.

Margaret Beckett, Derby MP and secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, warned poor performing councils will face action, as single figure recycling rates are "no longer acceptable".

They will have to meet environment minister Elliot Morley, with "stronger action" promised against those who do not show improvements.

Mrs Beckett said: "While there is still a lot of work to do to raise levels of recycling even higher, this is a strong indication that the nation is adjusting to more sustainable waste practices."