The pair's local authority - St Edmundsbury Borough Council - said its recycling rates for household waste had gone up from 50.05% (2007-8) to 52.3% (2011-12).

BBC: Bury St Edmunds recycler does away with landfill bin

Devon has eight city, district or borough councils, which are each responsible for collecting household waste for recycling or disposal.

BBC: Rubbish

In February a King's Lynn and West Norfolk borough-wide referendum overwhelmingly rejected a plan to build a waste incinerator.

BBC: King's Lynn incinerator plan tackled by judicial review

The LGA report recommended that WSC considered achieving savings through the sharing of services such as planning and waste collection with neighbouring authorities such as Taunton Deane Borough Council and Sedgemoor District Council.

BBC: Minehead

The centre, which will treat 100, 000 tones of waste each year and generate power, was opposed by local people and the borough council.

BBC: Artist's impression of recycling centre

"This is despite the fact that 42% of people in the borough and 74% in Norfolk overall (including King's Lynn) state that Energy from Waste incineration is their preferred option after recycling, " a spokeswoman for Cory Wheelabrator said.

BBC: Residents overwhelmingly reject King's Lynn incinerator