Gwynedd Council's Senior Portfolio for the Environment, Councillor Gareth Roberts has paid tribute to the efforts of the residents of the Dwyfor area of the county.

"It is wonderful to see that Dwyfor residents are once again leading the way as we strive to increase the percentage of waste that is recycled and composted," said Councillor Gareth Roberts.

"Since introducing the new waste collection arrangement changes just six months ago, more than 1,000 tonnes less waste has been sent to landfill - that's the equivalent of the waste of 1,000 families for a whole year. The latest figures also show that 33% of the county's waste is recycled or composted - this is a significant step forward."

The Council now collects more materials from the roadside in the blue recycling box including plastic bottles and the brown bin for garden and kitchen waste. More Dwyfor residents are also making good use of the Council's recycling centres in Pwllheli and Garndolbenmaen.

Gwyn Morris Jones, Head of Gwynedd Council's Highways and Municipal Service added:

"These figures are very encouraging, and shows that the changes to the way we collect waste in dwyfor has significantly reduced the amount of waste which is sent to landfill, and we are also pleased to see the recycling and composting figures also increasing. We are very grateful to the Dwyfor residents for their support in this work.

"Gwynedd Council, like all Welsh Councils, is expected, to recycle and compost 40% of our waste by 2010. The next step in reaching this challenging target will be to introduce the changes to the rest of Gwynedd in the Arfon and Meirionnydd areas of the county, and looking to collect more materials for recycling and compost from the roadside.

"All of these changes will allow us to go a step further towards the significant challenge of recycling and composting 70% of our waste by 2025 - which is the figure which has been suggested by the Assembly Government."

For more information about the service or if you would like to receive a new blue recyling box, contact Gwynedd Council's Waste and Recycling Help desk on (01286) 679872 or e-mail: ailgylchu@gwynedd.gov.uk