County food retailers and farmers markets have got one over on the big superstores - after a report praised their low use of packaging.

Researchers who went to a range of outlets to buy 29 common food items, found that small local retailers and market traders "produced less packaging and more that could be recycled than the larger supermarkets."

The Local Government Association survey found that the worst offender was Lidl, with the packaging weighing 813 grams. At both Lidl and Marks and Spencer only 62 per cent of the packaging could be recycled.

Local retailers and market traders scored most highly, with the least packaging of all coming from a market, 617 grams, with 76 per cent of it recyclable.

Alastair Jessel, owner of the Taywell Farm Shop at Goudhurst and 300 acres of neighbouring farmland said: "Keeping packaging to a minimum is a policy for us here. We have bought in jute bags, which we subsidise and sell without a profit. The idea is that regular users don’t take out any plastic bags.

"In addition we use no clingfilm or shrink wrapping. We don’t have any polystyrene and we don’t have shrink wrap. Our vegetables are all loose and a lot of people just put them straight in the car boot. The only plastic bags we have are for frozen fruit.

"Rather than have any argument about it with customer we explain why we have that policy. Customers understand what we are doing and why."

Jill Sargent, of promotional agency Produced in Kent said: "Buying locally can drastically reduce the packaging involved. Products direct from the farm or via a local retailer or farmers market don’t travel as far and so don’t need to be packaged so heavily.

"Buying loose fruit and vegetables or meat from a local butcher also means you buy what you need and leads to less food wastage and therefore saves money."

The survey carried out for the LGA by the British Market Research Bureau, found that of the major supermarkets Asda’s packaging weighed least, at 646 grams, 69 per cent of which was recyclable.

It found most retailers have a lower weight of packaging than in an earlier survey taken in October 2007. The average weight of packaging had reduced by five per cent.

Paul Bettison, chairman of the LGA environment board, said: "The days of the cling film coconut must come to an end. We all have a responsibility to reduce the amount of waste being thrown into landfill, which is damaging the environment and contributing to climate change.

"Families will be pleased to see that more packaging in their shopping baskets can now be recycled. However, this survey shows there is still a lot further to go.

"Reducing packaging is vital if we are to avoid paying more landfill tax and EU fines, which could lead to cuts in frontline services and increases in council tax."

He said councils have to pay £32 in tax for every tonne of rubbish that is sent to landfill. That figure will rise to £48 a tonne by 2010.

*Chef Gary Rhodes is heading a nationwide search to find Britain’s produce champions with food TV channel UKTV Food. Nominations can be registered at www.uktvfood.co.uk.