RECYCLING collections are to be made in every school in Basildon from next month.

Council bosses have announced plans to extend recycling to all 72 primary and secondary schools in the district.

The move means they will, for the first time, be able to recycle plastic and paper waste.

Forty-two schools currently have access to recycling, but only some of these are able to recycle both plastic and paper.

Terri Sargent, Basildon councillor for the environment, said: “We are launching a full recycling service to help local schools dispose of waste in an environmentally-friendly way.

“Pupils will be able to recycle rubbish ranging from paper and cardboard to plastic bottles and drink cans.

“We hope this gets young people into the habit of recycling and prevents tonnes of rubbish from being dumped in landfill.”

Earlier this month, the council revealed recycling rates rose from 28 to 32 per cent – beating its target of 30 per cent – in the financial year 2007/08.

Mrs Sargent added: “We are continuing to expand our recycling service in order to cut the amount of waste sent to landfill.

“Schools produce tonnes of waste each year, which can now be recycled instead of being dumped.

“Our recycling figures are growing rapidly, and with school collections coming online, we hope to increase them even further.”

Schools will be given free 1,100 litre bins for their rubbish.

Recycling officers will go into schools to teach pupils about recycling.