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Suffolk's recycling rates are among the best in the land with 39.6% of household waste being put in the correct bins.Ìý The breakdown for each district for 2005/06 (source: Suffolk County Council) was:

1. St Edmundsbury 48.6%
2. Waveney 46.6%
3. Forest Heath 46.1%
4. Ipswich 36.5%5
5. Suffolk Coastal 33.5%
6. Babergh 33.3%
7. Mid Suffolk 28.4%

A campaign called "Suffolk: Creating the Greenest County" initiative was given its official launch at the Suffolk Show 2007. On site this meant trying out recycling bins at the food and drink areas as well as recycling and composting displays at various points.

The initial task is stated asÌý 'to come with ideas on how everybody can help to play their part in reducing the effects of climate change.'

The chairman of the campaign is farmer David Barker: "It's not just about recycling. It's also about things such as growing crops for energy and it's about growing local foods which don't have to travel so far.Ìý It's also about conservation and continuing to encourage Suffolk's nature reserves and wildlife projects."

Overflowing bins?

One idea being knocked around at the moment is that of simply charging for the amount of waste we produce in our homes.Ìý The County Council's project manager Ian Dunnett says it's about education first: "Recycling rates will go up using new technology such as chips in bins.Ìý Initially the best way is to educate people.

"If you take my household, a couple of years ago we weren't recycling anything and now we're doing around 95% of it and it hasn't cost anyone a penny. We're only going to think about charging people when all else has failed."

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