A FORMER binman is turning East Cleveland green.

Anthony Smith, the new recycling officer for Redcar and Cleveland Council, has piloted a paper recycling project that is being expanded across the district.

He set a 20-tonne-a-week target for the Blue Bag pilot, launched in June for 30,000 homes in Redcar, Marske, New Marske, Saltburn and Guisborough.

But residents have done even better, bagging an average 30 tonnes a week for the scheme.

The project is a partnership between the council and Cheshire Recycling, which makes fortnightly collections.

The wastepaper, newspapers, magazines and pamphlets, is taken to Cheshire for recycling and is quickly back on the news-stands, with £1 for every tonne also going towards the Save The Children Fund.

Mayor Coun Eric Jackson launched the scheme among the borough's remaining 30,000 homes on Monday.

Mr Smith spent five years as a binman before studying waste management.

He said: "We estimated it would take 60 per cent of households in the pilot project area to get us 20 tonnes a week, but we're doing far better that. The public has definitely taken to it and if we get the same response across the borough, we'll be delighted."