ENVIRONMENTALLY aware residents have called on waste bosses to recycle more plastics in Tendring…even if they have to pay extra.

The district has one of the worst recycling rates in Essex, with just 27 per cent of household waste recycled.

A task group was put together by Tendring Council to undertake a review of the service in a bid to boost recycling rates.

Following interviews with more than 90 people, researchers found residents want more plastics to be collected…and 67 per cent of people would even pay extra for a more comprehensive recycling service.

A report said: “Surprisingly the research even offered a general opinion that because of the importance accorded to recycling the public would in many cases be prepared to pay more for a better service.

“This was particularly focussed around the issue of plastics recycling where the public quite clearly said that all plastics need to be collected not just the bottles currently collected.

“The data indicates it is a major issue at the forefront of resident’s minds and to ignore that groundswell of opinion would be unwise.”

The task group has recommended to the council’s cabinet that it considers changing the way the council delivers its recycling service.

Its recommendations include approaching supermarkets to see if they would consider having a deposit recycling scheme in store and lobbying the Government to do more to remove plastics from British coastlines.

The group said the district’s recycling targets are “unambitious” and that it even failed to meet those low targets.

Tendring Council’s cabinet is set to discuss the matter on Friday, when it is set to recommend the establishment of a cross-party working group to review the recycling and waste needs across the district two years prior to any new contract.

It will also recommend ensuring future publications regarding recycling are clear, concise, with hints and tips to encourage recycling.

Michael Talbot, cabinet member for the environment, said the council collected all plastics when recycling was introduced in 2004, but that was scaled back in 2012 to save money.

“The cost of collecting all types of plastic would be another £820,000 a year,” he said.

“Contractors would have to take the waste to a transfer station where plastic is sorted - and half of the plastic has no recycling value at all.

“We are one of few areas where we can say almost 100 per cent of recycled waste collected is actually recycled rather than going to a landfill site.

“We are hoping that when we introduce wheelie bins in June this year that recycling will go up considerably.”