Powys County Council recycles more than other local authorities in Wales

According to the Welsh Assembly Government, 28.1% of all waste dealt with by the county council last year was recycled and composted.

The local authority puts the success down to its comprehensive environment policy.

Local authorities received �75m over four years in 2002 which they could spend on recylcing.

County councillor Joy Shearer, portfolio holder for waste management, said: "We are delighted with the results and to be at the top of the recycling league table in Wales.

The success is down to the efforts of members of the public and the staff delivering the service Cllr Joy Shearer

"The amount of waste we produce in Powys continues to grow, so to achieve such a significant rise in recycling and composting is a major achievement.

"The success is down to the efforts of members of the public and the staff delivering the service."

Cllr Shearer said the council wasn't complacent and was planning, with help from communities, to expand its services, facilities and awareness of recycling and composting.

Among the authority's green initiatives is a door-to-door collection service for recycleables.

A number of additional green services started last year, including a trial garden waste collection.

The local authority also allowed businesses to use the waste and recycling centres.

According to Welsh Assembly Government figures, in 2002 there were 1,718,000 tonnes of municipal waste in Wales.

A spokesman said it had set some "challenging" green targets for councils and Powys was one of its top five authorities when it came to recycling and composting.

Powys has been praised for their use of recycling schemes

Of this, 144,000 tonnes were recycled or composted.

Last month, residents of a Powys town were praised for their awareness of environmental schemes.

The Welsh Consumer Council (WCC) said people in Machynlleth were "very clued-up" about recycling and energy-saving schemes.

In research funded by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Issues (Defra), WCC found eco-friendly initiatives in the town had made an impact.