RECYCLING rates in Harrow have hit 50 per cent as the service is extended to flats.

A grant of almost £400,000 will provide 8,000 flats, previously left out of the scheme, with blue bins.

Councillor Phillip O’Dell, responsible for environment and community safety, said: “To recycle half of our domestic waste is a great achievement and I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped us reach this important milestone.

“As well as the obvious environmental benefits, there are real financial benefits to recycling.

“Few people think about the cost of processing waste when they put out their rubbish, but even with our impressive recycling rate, disposing of our waste will still cost us £5.6 million this year.”

Plans to extend recycling to flats were approved at a meeting on Thursday. By the end of March 2012, Harrow Council hopes all homes will be able to recycle.