The London borough of Kingston is expected to save around £50,000 a year in waste disposal costs after a surge in its plastics recycling rate.

The council said the increase follows the introduction of collecting a wider range of plastics last year, including trays, cans, detergent containers and yoghurt pots. Its figures show collections have risen from 70 tonnes a month in October 2012 to around 100 tonnes last month.

Councillor Sharon Hartley, Kingston Council’s lead member for sustainability said: “The response to the new service has been fantastic! Recycling plastics along with the many other items is so important. By saving precious resources and further reducing pollution, residents also save council taxpayers money.”

The plastics are collected by Kingston’s waste and recycling collection contractor Veolia.