BINS to collect garden waste have been distributed to houses in Newton Aycliffe in a pilot scheme which aims to improve recycling rates.

The green waste recycling trial was introduced for 6,000 properties in Woodham village and parts of Newton Aycliffe a year ago. It provided households with paper or biodegradable plastic bags to collect garden refuse.

But recent studies in other areas have shown that collections using bins have been more successful than bags.

As a result, Sedgefield Borough Council has issued brown bins to 1,200 houses in the area of the trial, which is to be extended until next June.

Gordon Lennon, the council's technical services manager, said: "We have taken 1,200 properties off bags and given them bins. It's basically to compare the two systems.

"We will be running it until about next June. At the end of that period we could extend it to other areas depending on how successful this has been and the available resources."

The scheme has also led the council to change its policy on collecting garden waste.

At present, householders can put their garden rubbish in wheeled bins, or arrange for a free collection.

But the scheme is being withdrawn in areas when bags or bins are provided.

As part of the initial trial a questionnaire was circulated to 900 properties, of which 89 per cent said they were satisfied with the service.