SOUTHEND Council has been slammed for not recycling its own food waste despite urging residents to do so.

Lib Dem councillor Carole Roast said she was outraged to discover that food from the Civic Centre is not recycled and the council does not require its private catering firm, Yes Dining, to do so either.

She said: “I have been given all sorts of reasons and excuses why this is not happening, but there must be a way it can be done.

“Southend Council cannot expect residents to do their bit if they are not going to do the same.”

The council’s waste team said at the moment there is no way the authority can recycle its food waste but it hopes to do so in the future.

*FULL STORY IN TOMORROW'S ECHO.