YELLOW bags are being handed out to hundreds of students to reduce the rubbish left when they move out of their digs for the summer.

For the second year running, Durham County Council is running a Green Move Out scheme to encourage Durham University students to recycle items they no longer want and cut the council’s clean-up bill.

Last year, 1.5 tonnes of material was collected from 1,800 student households in the city, spread across 43 streets.

Terry Collins, the council’s corporate director of neighbourhood services, said: “Every summer thousands of students move out of or between properties in Durham City.

“In June and July last year more than 120 tonnes of additional household waste was generated in the city alone, which cost the council in excess of £12,000 to clean up, collect and dispose of.

“We want to ensure that as much as possible is reused and recycled so, together with our partners, we are aiming to help students to sort their reusable items from their waste.”

From this month, yellow bags and information leaflets will be issued to thousands of properties in the city and the council plans extra neighbourhood warden patrols as well as extra refuse collections.

Michelle Crawford, environment bursar at Durham University, said: “This is a very positive initiative which will help to ensure that as many items as possible are reused and that as much recycling as possible takes place during the move out period as well as keeping waste to a minimum.”

Students will be encouraged to donate clothing and shoes, bedding, books, electrical items, pots and pans, crockery and tinned food.

Yellow bags should be placed at the front of properties for collection by County Durham Furniture Help Scheme on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting on June 15 and ending on July 3.

For further information on the Green Move Out scheme, including the streets involved, visit www.dur.ac.uk/greenspace/greenmoveout/liversout