A COUNCIL has hired a recycling officer to help it meet Government targets.

Andy Turner has joined Richmondshire District Council to improve the authority's recycling service.

Mr Turner will work closely with recycling champion Councillor Jill McMullon to help the district meet Government targets.

The authority has recently launched a green garden waste kerbside collection scheme for 10,000 households.

This week, green lidded recycling boxes are being delivered to 8,000 homes for fortnightly collections of glass and cans.

Coun McMullon said: "The new scheme will enable more people to actively take part in recycling and reduce the amount we needlessly send to landfill."

Glass and aluminium and steel cans can be stored in the box, which will be collected at the same time as the paper recycling.

Richmondshire currently recycles 11 per cent of the rubbish it generates, and officials hope the scheme will increase this to 18 per cent by next April.