Projects to boost recycling are to share more than £2.5 million of funding, Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham has announced.

East Ayrshire Council will receive more than £2 million to roll out a consistent recycling system under the Scottish Household Recycling Charter, a joint initiative between the Scottish Government and council body Cosla.

Councils will also receive £120,000 for food waste communications aimed at increasing uptake of local recycling services.

A further £500,000 will support the work that the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) and councils are doing to capture harmful methane from closed landfills.

Ms Cunningham said: "Zero Waste Scotland has estimated that we could save 11 mega tonnes of emissions by 2050 by moving to a more circular economy - where we keep valuable materials in circulation for as long as possible.

"Our ambition in this area goes hand in hand with our ambition on climate change.

"Less than half of Scotland's household waste now goes to landfill and 75% of households now have a food waste service.

"The additional support I am announcing today will help keep valuable materials in circulation for as long as possible and help reduce our emissions."

Councillor Stephen Hagan, Cosla's sustainability spokesman, said: "This is an important step in the implementation of the Scottish Household Recycling Charter and I know that other councils will benefit in due course.

"It's hugely encouraging that a clear majority of councils have now voluntarily committed to the charter and I now believe the focus needs to be on turning this positivity into tangible delivery on the ground, which ultimately will be to the benefit of communities, the economy and the environment."