A CHURCH vicar has praised Calderdale Council for helping local residents to collect their rubbish.

The Rev Peter Jeffrey, of St Michael's Church, Cornholme, said: "I was appalled to learn on the news in mid-September that here in the UK we only recycle 14.5 per cent of our household rubbish, whereas Holland recycles 56 per cent and Germany 59 per cent.

"So 14.5 per cent seems a bit measly. We are obviously not really bothered about it."

Mr Jeffrey said that to correct the situation the government had set a target for local authorities to achieve, but until recently, Calderdale had been one of the local authorities which had concentrated on higher density items such as glass and paper.

He said: "It is, therefore, good to hear of initiatives within Calderdale to recycle plastics."

Mr Jeffrey said he had been told by Calderdale Contracts Officer Jonathan Lord that five plastic recycling skips had been ordered for the borough, and one of them would be put in place at Eastwood, Todmorden.