BUSINESSES want to join the recycling revolution in Castle Point.

More than half of household waste in the borough is now being recycled, up from 39.4 per cent this time last year.

Tory councillor Norman Smith said local businesses were now asking how they could go green too.

At the moment, the council only provides recycling services for the borough’s homes, not businesses.

But Mr Smith said: “I get a lot of businesses ask if they can help, because they’ve got a lot of cardboard and paper that is still going to landfill.”

Ray Howard, Castle Point councillor responsible for waste, agreed in principle that businesses should recycle. He said larger quantities of waste could potentially be recycled from businesses than people’s homes.

He added there had been discussions with Kevin Bentley, Essex county councillor responsible for waste, about introducing recycling programmes for companies across the county.

He revealed residential recycling figures had improved even further, since the 51.73 per cent of total waste reported for September. No figures have so far been revealed by Castle Point Council for October and November.

Castle Point and other south Essex councils recently joined the county council to introduce a food waste recycling initiative.

This service was implemented in Castle Point in July.

Mr Howard hopes to see further big improvements in overall recycling rates over the coming months.

He said: “We have a mammoth task ahead as a country, as a county and as a borough.”