RECYCLING targets for Welsh authorities are too ambitious, according to a leading member of the country's "greenest" council.

Waste recycling and composting rates in Newport have risen from 12 to 17 per cent to make it the best in Wales.

But it still has a long way to go to reach the 45 per cent that has been set by the National Assembly.

"In my opinion we will never reach it. We are now at 17 per cent and I think we will hit a barrier at 25 per cent," said Councillor Graham Dally, pictured, cabinet member for transport and sustainable development.

He told the cabinet that dramatic changes were needed in charging and the way waste was collected.

"I think the Assembly will have to start to rethink it."

Councillor Dally added that even the best authorities in England were nowhere near the figure of 45 per cent for recycling and composting.

Newport is now the leading authority in green waste recycling in Wales.

In 1999, the city's recycling figure was just 6.4 per cent but extensive work such as the Rethink Rubbish campaign and Newport Wastesavers' kerbside collection service has boosted performance.

The council also has a new compost facility as well as plastic and cardboard recycling banks at Docks Way civic amenity site.

Current schemes include garden waste collection trials and increasing the frequency of collection and type of materials collected via the green boxes.

l Last year Newport residents recycled: 3,400 tonnes of compost, 1,198 tonnes of glass, 169 tonnes of cans, 123 tonnes of cardboard, six tonnes of paint, 1,655 tonnes of metal, 245 tonnes of furniture, 164 tonnes of textiles, ten tonnes of plastic and one tonne of Christmas cards.

To find out more about recycling and composting in Newport visit www.newport.gov.uk/rethinkrubbish or telephone 01633 233264.

For a free green recycling box call Wastesavers on 01633 216856.