Residents’ green-fingered credentials have been hailed after the borough achieved its highest ever rate of recycling.

About 42 per cent of borough waste is now recycled - up from 32 per cent in 2006/7 - but Richmond’s environment chiefs have pledged to increase it further.

The borough now has the highest recycling rate in south west London and is in the top four in the capital.

Councillor Geoff Acton, cabinet member for environment, said: “I’m pleased with what is a significant increase in our recycling rate. We are the best in west London and one of the best in the capital.

“This has been a real joint effort between the council and local people who have responded to the new scheme we put in place last year. I would like to thank our residents in particular for their cooperation and support over the last 12 months.

“The benefits of this are significant. If every house can make a meaningful reduction to the waste it produces we stand to save a significant amount of money – money that can be spent on services rather than buried in the ground.”

He said the attention would now turn to reducing how much waste is produced in the first place.

The council is set to launch a drive to encourage residents to recycle their food waste - and put less into their rubbish - and wards where less is collected will be targeted.

Coun Acton added: “We need to keep recycling [and] produce less waste in the first place. The combination to the two will make significant savings and help our environment at the same time.

“Over the coming months we will be providing information on how residents can help and get involved in the councils campaign to reduce waste and save money.”

The waste and recycling collection service has seen a series of changes in the past two years with the introduction of doorstep collection of cardboard and plastic bottles in November 2007 and a simplification of the scheme - with new black and blue boxes - last year.

Recycling chiefs have put the increase down to the new scheme, which introduced zonal collections - collecting everything from an area on the same day - and new vehicles.