RESIDENTS have been praised for responding positively to a new recycling scheme.

About 7,000 homes are taking part in a scheme to boost recycling levels in Hartlepool.

The most recent figures show that, on average, residents are recycling 48 per cent of household waste, which has delighted Hartlepool Borough Council.

Colin Ogden, the council's waste and recycling manager, said: "This is a great start to the scheme and I would like to thank residents for their support.

"The scheme does represent a significant shift in how residents dispose of their household waste - and 48 per cent, at this stage, is well above our expectations.

"Inevitably, with any new system, there is always going to be a very small number of residents who raise issues, but we work closely with them to help overcome any difficulties."

Under the scheme, residents in Fens, Greatham, Newton Bewley and parts of Owton Manor, Rift House and Rossmere have been given a brown wheelie bin for garden waste and white polythene bags for plastic bottles and cardboard.

This is in addition to their blue boxes and bags and green wheelie bins.

A six-month pilot scheme began early last month in which green wheelie bins and blue boxes and bags are emptied one week, and brown bins and white poly bags the next.

The scheme is designed to reduce the amount of waste generated and will also help to meet tough new Government recycling targets.

A recycling hotline has been set up to help residents with any queries about the scheme. The number to ring is (01429) 523808.