OFFICIALS say kerbside recycling has saved more than 5,000 tonnes of rubbish from going into landfill sites.

They are urging people in County Durham to continue thinking green during the festive season.

The Kerb-it scheme operates in Chester-le-Street, Durham and Sedgefield. Other schemes are run elsewhere in the county.

The scheme has achieved the 17 per cent recycling and composting target agreed by Durham County Council and the Government to be reached by 2005.

Premier Waste Management has collected more than 5,000 tonnes of paper, glass and cans fortnightly since the scheme started in April.

Brian Myers, the county council cabinet member for waste management, said: "All of the partners involved with Kerb-it would like to thank residents for their support so far.

"With all the forthcoming parties we would like people to recycle all their paper, glass and cans over the festive period. If the box is full, additional material can be placed alongside it for collection.''

The council says people can have a greener Christmas by buying an artificial tree, using reusable shopping bags, buying products made from recycled materials, re-using gift tags and gift boxes, reusing wrapping paper, tissue paper and bows, and buying rechargeable batteries for toys.

The Kerb-it scheme accepts newspapers, magazines, junk mail, white telephone directories, catalogues, other white and coloured paper, glass bottles and jars, steel and aluminium food and drinks can and empty metal aerosol cans.

It does not take plastic or metal caps, lids or bottle tops, plastic window envelopes or cardboard.

Gift wrapping, paper or greeting cards, window panes, windscreens, broken glass, Pyrex or cookware, light bulbs, spectacles, milk bottles, Yellow Pages directories, crockery and ceramics should also not be put out for recycling.