A FAMILY has taken delivery of the 10,000th composting bin to be distributed in a scheme to encourage recycling.

Louise Simms, from Langley Park, collected her bin, which allows kitchen and garden waste to be recycled to produce compost. The Compost At Home scheme is run by Durham County Council and the subsidised bins are distributed throughout the authority's area and in neighbouring Darlington.

A third of household waste can be turned into compost - including potato peelings, tea bags and grass cuttings - which not only reduces the amount of waste going to landfill sites, but also helps residents' gardens to bloom.

Councillor Brian Myers, the authority's cabinet member for waste, said: "People have given the campaign huge support from the moment we announced the special-price bins.

"They are really understanding the benefits of recycling their kitchen and garden waste and the great results they can achieve if they use the compost on their garden."

For details, call 0845 077 0757.