Bradford is recycling ten per cent of its household waste, latest Government figures reveal.

But the authority claims the data used to compile the national table is at least 18 months old and in reality the district is on target to recycle 16 per cent by the end of the year.

The figures for 2002-03 were released by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and show that recycling of paper, compost, glass, plastic and tin in England is at its highest ever level.

Figures showed an increase in the household waste recycling and composting rate for England of 14.5 per cent, compared with 12.5 per cent in 2001-02. They also revealed a reduction in the amount of household waste sent to landfill for the first time in years.

But Richard Longcake, Bradford Council's principal waste management officer, believes the picture is even brighter. "The figures are a bit old: our figure for last year was 13 per cent and looks to be on target for 16 per cent by the end of this year," he said.

At the moment half the district has paper recycling bins and next year a further 45,000 households will get them.

Around 5,000 homes use kerbside glass and tin recycling and 15,000 more will get that facility next year.

An ambitious national target of recycling and composting 25 per cent of total household waste has been set for 2005-06 - the same local target set for Bradford.

Mr Longcake admits it will be tough.

"It depends on how much people fully participate in the scheme.

"We are trying to promote the idea and get the message through. The figures are going in the right direction," he said.Environment minister Elliot Morley said figures showed the whole region was recycling 2.5 per cent more than in the previous year.

"It can be as easy to put aside waste for recycling as it is to throw it away.

"Every old newspaper or empty tin can make a difference," he said.

Councillor Jim Harker, vice-chairman of the Local Government Association's environment board, said: "Councils have huge further potential in this area and are determined to continue developing and sharing better ways of working but are currently facing a 'double whammy' of squeezed funding for environmental services and a host of new national and EU waste targets."