TWO green-fingered hands are better than one it seems as brothers are awarded for their efforts in recycling.

A North Yorkshire household waste centre has become the first in the county to recycle and compost more than 50 per cent of the rubbish that has been deposited over the past year.

Site attendants, brothers Alan and David Kirkley were presented with a certificate and a self-powered radio at the centre in Sowerby to mark their achievement.

North Yorkshire County Councillor John Fort visited the site and made the presentation.

As executive member of the environmental services, he said: "I would like to congratulate the site attendants and users for all their hard work in recycling and composting, without which this significant figure would not have been met.

"The Government has set targets for North Yorkshire to recycle 21 per cent of all household waste by 2005/06. The 50 per cent recycling and composting rate at Sowerby will make a major contribution to this overall target."

The council hopes to achieve a similar standard of work at the other 20 household waste and recycling centres in North Yorkshire.

Residents are encouraged to dispose of their rubbish at any of the centres, particularly during the Christmas period when household waste increases by a third.

Aluminium foil, books, batteries, engine oil, glass, green waste, scrap metal, rubble, textiles, wood and Yellow Pages can all be taken to be recycled.