ECO-FRIENDLY residents helped Castle Point Council make nearly £50,000 last year with their recycling efforts.

Keen residents managed to recycle 49 per cent of the borough’s household waste last year, up from 39.4 per cent in 2010.

The food waste recycling scheme was launched last July and the first 12-month figures show 8,162 tonnes of green and food waste was saved from the rubbish tip.

The council was then able to cash in on the public’s efforts by selling the recyclable goods onto companies for a profit of £48,069. The companies then use the materials to make new things.

The money raised was part of the council underspending its budget by £1.5million in 2011/2012.

County councillor responsible for waste, Ray Howard , said: “This is fantastic news. The community of Castle Point is so environmentally friendly we are increasing the amount we are recycling all the time. To go out and see all the pink sacks on collection day is marvellous.

“Not only are we helping the environment and saving money by not going to landfill, we are also making money for this borough by selling it on, so it’s good news all round.

“I would like to pay tribute to the public for making our recycling projects so successful. They make me proud to be the cabinet member for this portfolio.”

Despite the budget savings, Jeffrey Stanley, deputy leader of the council, said the majority of the money would not go unspent for long as the council was ploughing money into the revamp of Waterside Farm Leisure Centre, in Somnes Avenue, Canvey .

Mr Stanley, who is also councillor responsible for corporate policy, resources and performance, said: “For a long time the council has been spending less than it budgets for, and the reason for this is largely because we are very careful with what we spend and get good value for money.

“While it may look like big figures we have under spent, you must consider that around £41million comes in and goes out of the council accounts in the course of a year, so when you compare it to that, the amount is quite small.

“Reserves are useful to have because they enable us to undertake bigger capital projects, like the renovation of Waterside Farm, which the whole of the borough will benefit from.”

The council made an extra £37,000 this year from more people using the borough’s car parks, £48,069 from re-selling the borough’s recyclable rubbish and £20,538 savings on its IT contracts.