THE city's cleansing chiefs are celebrating after new figures revealed Exeter's recycling rate is continuing to rise.

The city is now on target to recycle just over 14,000 tonnes in the current financial year.

It equates to a 15.5 mile queue of bin lorries — which would completely cover Exeter's Green Circle and still leave three-and-a-half miles of vehicles full of recycling left over.

The Echo can exclusively reveal the city's recycling figures for the third quarter of this financial year are just over 37 per cent.

This is putting the city on target for an average rate of 36.5 per cent for the whole year and is the equivalent of 28,000 male African elephants.

And it means that Exeter has raced past the statutory target of 30 per cent for its recycling, which it was set by the Government.

Welcoming the latest figures, Mike Trim, head of the city's cleansing services, said: "These figures are absolutely superb. When it comes to dry recyclables, Exeter has one of the highest rates in the whole of the country and we have the best rate across the South West.

"The Government set us a rate of 30 per cent which we had to reach to avoid penalties.

"We went over that and our own recycling plan set a target of 35 per cent but we were doing so well at the end of April 2008 we set ourselves a new target of 36 per cent for this year and 37 per cent for the year 2009-10.

"It looks as though we are not going to be that much short of next year's target.

"But I have said all along that the higher it gets, the harder it is going to be.

"The majority of Exeter residents are very good at recycling and if we could get everyone to recycle then the rate would rocket up to 40 per cent."

Exeter currently does not recycle kitchen waste but this will be considered at a working party undertaking a review of the city's cleansing services.

Mr Trim said: "We have to take a decision on whether to introduce a kitchen waste collection or send this to the waste to energy plant which is being built in Exeter.

"If we do the latter, there will be a point at which the city's recycling figures will stick but we will not be sending any waste to landfill.

"We will also need to carry out consultation with residents for their views on the issue."