COUNCIL chiefs keen to promote a greener future are inviting schools to learn more about helping to protect the environment.

Hartlepool Borough Council wants to encourage more visits to its Environmental Education Centre, at the town's civic amenity site, in Burn Road.

A range of waste is separated and processed for recycling at the centre, including cardboard, newspapers, bottles, cans and plastics.

Visitors can watch the process, and learn more about recycling, and other waste disposal issues, from information boards offering a range of interesting facts and figures.

The council receives support to run the centre from Cleveland Waste Management, via a local environmental partnership called the Industry Nature Conservation Association (Inca).

The aim is to benefit school pupils and college students by tailoring the information on offer to fit in with their studies.

Pride in Hartlepool officer Ron Gosling said: "Parties are welcome to stay for up to two hours, but a visit can be as short as 20 minutes. Whatever the duration of their stay, I can guarantee that they will find it interesting.

"This is all part of our efforts to try to ensure a sustainable future, by reducing the amount of waste that has to be either incinerated or disposed of in landfill sites."

Schools and colleges can book their visits to the Environmental Action Centre by contacting (01429) 523793.