DURHAM County Council has launched one of the North-East's first carton recycling schemes.
The authority, in conjunction with carton maker Tetra Pak Ltd, is trialling the new project in east Durham.
If the six-month experiment proves successful, the scheme will be extended throughout the county.
The system, which started this week, allows people to take their paper-based milk, juice and sauce cartons to collection points at recycling centres in the Easington district.
Cartons cannot be placed in normal household recycling bins but they can be put in holders at Easington council offices in Seaside Lane, Easington Colliery, as well as at Green Street car park, in Seaham.
Councillor Brian Myers, the county council's cabinet member for waste management, said: "The carton collection scheme is one of a long line of improvements made in the last year."
He added: "Residents have always responded well to the different recycling schemes we've implemented across the county, but we've still got some tough targets to meet, both as a county and as a nation."
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