The council has increased its commitment to environmentally friendly methods of disposal during the last four years.

This has been further boosted in recent months by the successful launch of the kerbside collections of plastic as well as a food waste trial in the north of the borough.

Councillor Adrian Lawrence, cabinet member for Environment and Rural, said: “We have increased the recycling rate in Telford and Wrekin by nearly 10 per cent since 2007.

“This is good news for the environment and even better news for the borough’s finances.

“If the recycled materials we collect were to be taken to landfill disposal instead, it would cost the council an extra £900,000 in disposal costs and because the cost of landfill is rising sharply, we would be paying £1.3m more by 2014.

“The government has supported us with many of our projects to manage waste more effectively through a body known as WRAP which has funded trials, projects and been a source of advice and help”