SOUTH Shropshire District Council has boosted its recycling and composting performance by a massive 38% in the last year.

It recycled 16% of the district's waste in 2002-03, but increased the figure to 26% in 2003-04, a 38% rise.

Improvements by Shropshire Waste Partnership, of five Shropshire councils including South Shropshire District Council, have just been recognised in a letter of thanks from a top government minister.

In the year to March, 2004 the partnership beat the 14% target set by the Government, and recycled 23%. This year it expects to reach 28%, rising to about 35% by 2007.

Environment Minister Elliot Morley has sent a congratulatory letter to all the council leaders in the partnership.

The Government is also to provide an extra £1.7 million to help to meet the tough targets, which will be spent on setting up or improving kerbside collection of waste in South Shropshire, Bridgnorth, North Shropshire and Oswestry.