ALMOST 1,600 extra lorry loads of rubbish have been recycled since the introduction of fortnightly bin collections, a council has said.

Durham County Council switched to alternate weekly collections of waste and recycling in April last year.

Between April and December, residents recycled 7,988 tonnes more than the previous year – an increase of 31 per cent.

Councillor Brian Stephens, the council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods and local partnerships, said: “We’re very pleased with the increase in our kerbside recycling rates since the introduction of alternate weekly collections and would like to thank residents for helping us achieve this great result.

“Now that people have had time to get used to the new system, we’re hoping that they will recycle more and boost our recycling totals even further.”

For more information on recycling, visit durham.gov.uk/whatgoeswhere