EVERY home in Darlington can now do its bit for the environment after a recycling scheme has been extended across the town.

More than 265 tonnes of refuse have been recycled in the first two months of the scheme.

Time to Recycle was launched by Darlington Borough Council in September.

It was extended across the town in three phases, the third of which was launched this week.

The scheme covers about 45,000 houses in Darlington borough, from the town centre to rural areas.

All homes can now recycle household rubbish, from newspapers and cans, to glass bottles and jars.

The council has provided each house with a 55-litre green plastic box to store refuse that can be recycled.

Residents are asked to put the boxes out for collection once a fortnight, on the same day that other household refuse is collected.

The council's recycling team sorts the contents of the box at the roadside and put the items into compartments in new refuse lorries that have been adapted for recycling.

A full list of what can be recycled under Time to Recycle, and a calendar listing fortnightly collection dates until 2005 have been given to all homes.

Chris McEwan, the council's cabinet member for community protection, said: "It is very pleasing to see thousands of households across the borough regularly taking part in the Time to Recycle scheme, and in turn protecting our environment for future generations.

"Now the scheme is fully-operational even more householders can do their bit and take part in the scheme."

Anyone wanting copies of the leaflet or calendar with collection dates can call the council's recycling hotline on (01325) 388777.