RESIDENTS in north Durham are to be part of a recycling trial which could change the way domestic waste is collected and processed.

Homes in Newton Hall, Durham, will receive orange bags into which plastic bottles and cardboard should go, before putting the bag into the domestic wheelie bin.

Premier Waste Management, which runs the Kerb-It recycling services for the area, will then sort the materials at its County Durham plant, and will process the contents of the orange bags through a unique recycling system.

Premier Advanced Recycling Centre (Parc) uses modern technology to process domestic waste into reusable commodities such as compost, which is used to manufacture a high-quality topsoil.

It will divert more than two-thirds of the waste processed from landfill sites and release substantially less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Jeff Riddell, head of environment and leisure at Durham City Council, says: "It's very exciting for our area to be at the forefront of recycling innovation such as this, and the new system will make it very easy for local people to do their bit for the environment.

"Rolls of orange bags will be delivered to local residents' doors twice a year, and it will simply be a case of them putting plastic bottles and cardboard inside them, tying the bags up and putting the bag inside the wheelie bin each week with the rest of their household rubbish."

Glass, cans and paper should still be put into residents' Kerb-It boxes as usual.

Premier Waste Management is aiming to export the Parc system to other parts of the county.

The company's chief executive Dr Les Grant said: "This trial will last about 15 months, and we are certain it will clearly underline that we can recycle and recover a significant amount of the materials that are currently sent to landfill.

"The success we've had with the Parc system in the North-East will be central to its implementation around the UK, and we believe it has the potential to radically change the way in which recycling and waste management services are managed, and to considerably reduce their environmental impact."

For more information on the orange bag recycling trial, which will start from Monday, May 28, visit www.premierwaste.com