THE proportion of rubbish sent from the town to landfill has fallen to its lowest rate ever.

Ten years ago 87% of Slough’s trash ended up at landfill sites, however between April and June this year Slough Borough Council sent only 0.7% - one of the lowest rates in the country.

The drop follows a drive by the council and its contactor Amey to manage waste more efficiently.

Nicholas Hannon, waste and environment manager, said: “The amount of waste generated in Slough has decreased over the past few years and we’ve worked hard to reduce the percentage of it that gets put in the ground, where it slowly rots and produces harmful gases.

“We recycle about 30% of our waste, and the majority of the non-recyclable rubbish that used to be sent to landfill now gets shredded down and sent to Lakeside Energy from Waste Plant in Colnbrook. There it generates about 45 megawatts of electricity per day – enough to power the borough.” In the long-term, the council wants to reduce the landfill rate to zero and double the recycling rate to 60%.

A draft waste strategy being worked on by councillors will include detailed plans for the future of waste and recycling in the borough.

A total of 781 residents filled in a survey on the council’s waste and recycling services, which is part of a three-month public consultation to help shape the future of services in Slough.

The results will now be used to help develop the town’s 15-year waste strategy.