PEOPLE are being encouraged to put their rubbish to good use as part of a recycling initiative.

To encourage people to recycle their green waste at home, councils in County Durham are offering free trials of home composters.

The scheme is aimed at enabling local people to do their bit for the environment by reducing the amounts of waste they send to landfill.

Those choosing to keep the composters, which come in two sizes, will be able to buy them at a reduced price.

Councillor Brian Myers MBE, Durham County Council's cabinet member with responsibility for waste management, said: "Composters give an ideal solution for getting rid of your green garden and kitchen rubbish, while providing you with compost to help your new plants grow.

"Approximately 30 per cent of the average bin contents is made up of organic rubbish which can be composted.

"Composting is a fantastic way of trimming your waste, reducing the amount of rubbish buried at the county's landfill sites, and putting the goodness back into your garden for free."

For details of the offer, or to order a trial composter, ring 0870 844 3021.