RECYCLING in the Hambleton district has reached an all time high with two market towns battling to be the best.

A total of 550 tonnes of paper has been collected in the area over the past six months, helping to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill sites.

Residents in the centre of Northallerton have been some of the most dutiful recyclers, collecting about 54 tonnes since May. However, they were marginally beaten by the neighbouring market town of Thirsk, which collected 57 tonnes.

More than half of the district is covered by the kerbside scheme, which sees residents place their old newspapers and magazines in a blue sack for fortnightly collection.

The scheme is operated on behalf of the district council by the Yorwaste and Todd Waste Management partnership.

The paper is shredded into high quality horse bedding or made into other paper products.

"It does not matter how much paper is in the blue bags - every little helps," said Councillor Arthur Barker, cabinet spokesman on environmental health.

"The scheme is proving really successful and proves to us how much local people are willing to help bring down the amount of waste sent to landfill."