YOUNGSTERS have been encouraged to go green to help improve the environment.

As part of National Recycling Week, Stockton Borough Council promoted its recycling facilities to residents, young and old.

St Cuthbert's RC Primary School, in Stockton, was one of many schools across the borough learning about the environment.

Pupils were encouraged to recycle small electrical items along with everything from paper and cardboard, cans and glasses, plastic and garden waste.

They received a visit, on Friday, from David Rose, cabinet member for the environment, so he could find out what they were doing to reduce the school's carbon footprint.

"It is vital that we educate children to be green, " he said. "It is an important part of the curriculum and it is something they can do at home.

"It is really good to see this school so committed and proactive to the environment."

Since May, the council's Care For Your Area Team has collected more than 1,650 tonnes of green waste from households across the borough.

Aswell the kerbside collections, residents can take full advantage of the household waste recycling site, at Haverton Hill, to recycle everything from furniture to televisions and computers.

Last year, more than 17,000 tonnes of material collected by Stockton council was sent for recycling, with less than 15 per cent collected going to landfill.