SEVERAL charities will enjoy a great start to the year thanks to the recycling efforts of thousands of people.

A total of £7,000 has been donated to 14 charities from the Kerb-it Fund, which grows every time householders recycle.

Set up by Durham-based Premier Waste Management, it encourages people to use their Kerb-it recycling boxes.

The company donates £1 for every tonne of paper, cans and glass collected from recycling boxes and nearly £80,000 has been raised in the past three years.

Premier runs the Kerb-it scheme in seven areas, Durham City, Chester-le-Street, Sedgefield, Easington, Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside.

Gary Whitehead, director of recycling at Premier, said: "Not only are they saving precious resources and reducing the waste we bury in landfill sites, they are also making a big difference to their local communities.

In the latest round of Kerb-it donations, the charities, which each received £500, are: Durham City Centre Youth Project, Belmont Parish Hall Association, Eden Residents' Association, ACTS Furniture Scheme, Blackhall Alzheimers Day Centre, St Andrew's Church Hall Fund, Station Lane Area Residents' Association; Bournmoor Conservation Volunteers, The Tiny Lives Fund, Signed with Love, Chopwell Community Business, Arthritis Care Gateshead, Spirit in the Community, and Wann Street Lunch Club.