KERBSIDE recycling has saved more than 5,000 tonnes of rubbish from going into landfill sites.

And people are being urged to continue thinking green during the festive season.

The Kerb-it scheme, which operates in Chester-le-Street and Durham, has already achieved the 17pc recycling and composting target agreed by Durham County Council and the Government. The target had to be reached by 2005.

Premier Waste Management Ltd has collected more than 5,000 tonnes of paper, glass and cans every fortnight since the scheme was launched in April.

Brian Myers, the county council cabinet member for waste management, said: "All the partners involved with Kerb-it would like to thank residents for their support so far.

"With all the forthcoming parties we would like people to recycle their paper, glass and cans.

"If the box is full additional material can be placed alongside it for collection." The council says people can have a greener Christmas by buying an artificial tree, re-using shopping bags, buying products made from recycled materials, re-using gift tags, gift boxes, wrapping paper, tissue paper and bows and buying rechargeable batteries for gifts.

The Kerb-it scheme accepts newspapers, magazines, junk mail, white telephone directories, catalogues, all other white paper and coloured paper, glass bottles and jars, steel and aluminium food and drinks cans and empty aerosols.

It does not take plastic or metal caps, lids or bottle tops, envelopes with plastic windows, cereal boxes, washing powder boxes or any other cardboard.

Gift wrapping or greeting cards, window panes, windscreens, broken glass, Pyrex or cookware, light bulbs, spectacles, milk bottles, Yellow Pages and crockery cannot be put out for recycling.