TEENAGERS from north Durham will present the findings of their investigation into how rubbish and waste can be better cleaned up by Durham County Council, this week.

The presentation is all part of the council's Local Democracy Week, and it is being taken seriously as the authority faces a crisis in how it deals with ever -increasing quantities of rubbish.

Ten teenagers from Framwellgate School, Durham, and Tanfield Comprehensive School have examined the waste management strategies of 30 leading companies during their summer holidays.

They will present their initial findings to leading councillors and council officers for consideration, at a special meeting on Wednesday.

The youngsters will discuss the issues with councillor Don Ross and the county council's head of environment, David Miller.

The group has met throughout the summer and wrote letters to companies ranging from fast food outlets to manufacturing firms.

One of the pupils, Claire Troman, said: "We now have a number of responses, which will help us in our investigations in the production of waste and its disposal. We hope to be able to focus on one company in detail as part of our research."

Councillor Ross said that consultation with the public was being taken seriously on the issue of waste disposal.

Only three per cent of waste in County Durham is recycled, which is less than half the UK average, and the amount of rubbish is increasing every year.

The Government has set a target of ten per cent of all waste to be recycled by 2003.

Households in the county produce 277,000 tonnes of waste a year.