MORE areas in North Yorkshire are to become involved in a growing recycling network.

Harrogate Borough Council is the latest to link up with waste contractors Yorwaste and has confirmed that kerbside collections of newspapers and magazines in green plastic bags will begin by the end of the month.

Ripon and the Jennyfield, Bilton and Knox, Coppice, New Park and Quarry Park areas of Harrogate will take part in the trial.

Also included are the villages and towns of Pateley Bridge, Bewerley and Glasshouses, Sharow, Baldersby, Boroughbridge, Kirby Hill, Langthorpe, Aldborough, Dishforth and the Ouseburns.

The borough council's member for environmental health, Councillor Les Ellington, said: "We have been staggered by the response to the trial recycling of cans, glass bottles and jars.

"At the moment, 13,000 properties in the east of the district are taking part in that scheme, which has been operating for just a few months.

"Already, more than 25 tonnes of rubbish per week is being recycled and diverted from landfill sites."

He added: "We aim to recycle about 14 per cent of rubbish collected in the next 12 months - currently the figure is about seven per cent.

"Even if you only take one daily or weekly paper or magazine, I think residents will be amazed at how much this adds up once they see them stacked neatly in the special "paper only" bags.''

The kerbside collection trial begins on Monday, January 27, although the first green bags will be issued to householders from Monday.

Those who receive them are asked not to include telephone directories, junk mail, office paper or cardboard.