SIDMOUTH and Ottery residents have helped make Devon become England’s top recycling county.

The county scored a recycling rate of 55per cent between 2010 and 2011.

Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire and Suffolk were left trailing closely behind with rates of 54per cent.

The figure for Devon 20 years ago was just two per cent – an award winning achievement at the time.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council (DCC) cabinet member for environment and community, said: “Our high rate of recycling is down to the commitment of residents and we would like to say a big thank you to them.

“Please keep up the good work.”

Devon currently has 19 recycling centres, like the Woods Farm facility near Tipton St John.

The county generates around 378,000 tonnes of rubbish every year, of which 171,000 tonnes goes to landfill.

By the year 2020, the county is hoping to recycle 62oper cent of waste.

The Herald revealed earlier this year how a brand new, state-of-the-art, �2million recycling centre to serve Sidmouth and Ottery will be situated on land at The Bowd. .

DCC has sought planning permission for the purpose-built facility at a site less than a mile from Woods Farm, which it will replace, off the B3177.