NEWCASTLE footballing legend Malcolm MacDonald is backing a campaign to encourage people to recycle more.

The former Magpies and England striker was at a roadshow in the city centre's Northumberland Street, that featured the world's first motorised dustbin.

The giant turbo bin was the centrepiece of Rethink Rubbish! which is part of a Government campaign supported by Supermac and many celebrities.

The star said: "In the UK we throw away nearly 30 million tonnes of rubbish every year; and in Newcastle alone the average household throws away over a tonne of rubbish each year.

"That's enough rubbish to fill the River Tyne to the level of the Quayside from the Tyne Bridge to the Gateshead Millennium Footbridge every 18 months!

"What's more, the problem is getting worse. We need to look at new ways of dealing with all of this rubbish.

"In Newcastle, people currently recycle just 3.8 per cent of their rubbish but the city has to hit at least ten per cent by 2004."

The Rethink Rubbish roadshow - whose motorised giant bin is calling at 22 towns and cities during the summer - also included competitions and games.

Gearid Henry, Newcastle City Council's recycling officer said: "We know that the public are keen to look after their environment, but they need more information on how they can go about this."