Ealing Council’s decision to increase recycling services to local schools will mean that more than 500 tonnes of waste will no longer go straight to landfill each year.

The £160,000 programme will include the purchase of a special recycling vehicle to collect food waste and cardboard from schools across the borough.

Food waste bins will be provided for school canteens, wheelie bins for outside storage, and cardboard recycling bins. All will be emptied weekly.

This is in addition to the current paper and cans collection service provided by the council.

According to research, the new service could collect around 380 tonnes of recyclable food waste, and more than 200 tonnes of cardboard from Ealing schools.

Councillor Sue Emment, Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Services, said: "We are committed to continually improving our recycling services, and it is great that we are expanding services to include food waste and cardboard at schools."

"This new programme will reduce the amount of food waste and cardboard ending up in landfill, and will give pupils valuable information about how to be responsible with their rubbish."

"The free recycling collection scheme will also help schools to reduce the cost of disposing of their waste."