EFFORTS to increase waste recycling in the Richmondshire area have been given a boost.

The district council has won funding from the Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs to employ a new waste management assistant.

Based within the authority's environment unit, he or she will help to co-ordinate, evaluate and promote recycling schemes within the district.

The unit will also be involved with the educational aspects of recycling and assist with two initiatives to introduce recycling points at local schools and a household kerbside collection scheme.

Principal environmental health officer Sean Little said: "We are delighted to have received this funding from the Government.

"The council has been given targets to recycle ten per cent of all household waste by 2003/2004 - increasing to 18 per cent the following year - and the appointment of a new waste management assistant will help us to meet these figures."

The post has been funded for six months but the council hopes to secure additional funding for a further 12 months. It is expected that someone will be in post by the end of October.