HOUSEHOLDERS in Hartlepool are being urged to do their bit for the environment by cashing in on a discount home composting offer.

Hartlepool Council has joined forces with the Government-funded Recycle Now Home Composting Campaign to offer bins at bargain prices.

The discount scheme is running alongside Compost Awareness Week, a national campaign that runs from May 3-9.

Fiona Srogi, the Councils recycling officer, said: "We want to reduce the amount of waste that is simply thrown away and composting has a key role to play in this.

"The contents of an average household bin can be reduced significantly through home composting and you dont have to have a big garden. You can use your kitchen scraps to make good quality compost."

Bins can be ordered on-line at recyclenow.com/compost or call 0845 076 0223. The offer runs until September.