NORTH Yorkshire's waste management company has pledged to continue its work to improve the environment.

The managing director of Yorwaste, Steve Grieve, said in the firm's annual environment report that the company has made good progress towards meeting its environmental objectives.

He said further improvements could and would be achieved.

Yorwaste, based in Northallerton, was set up in 1993 when North Yorkshire County Council had to externalise its waste management along with county councils throughout the country.

The firm, which employs 100 people and is publicly owned, has established kerbside collection contracts with Hambleton, Craven and Harrogate councils covering 70,000 homes.

Meanwhile, the company has given £5.5m through its environmental division - Yorventure - to fund community projects.

Some of the cash has been used to improve public recreation areas, including parks.

Mr Grieve said his company was committed to high standards of waste management and co-operated with all interested parties to ensure safe working practices.

But he said that household waste recycling centres, visited by a large number of people, had a large potential for complaints.

He said: "Whether complaints arise from the public, contractors or our personnel, the company takes them very seriously and each is formally recorded and investigated."