FAMILIES are being asked their views on how better to dispose of waste, in the second phase of consultations.

This week, Durham County Council launches the next stage of its waste management review, looking at how to handle the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste produced in County Durham.

During the next six weeks, people will be asked their views on the initial draft of the County Durham Waste Local Plan, which is aimed at identifying new waste facilities throughout the county and at reducing the amount of material taken to landfill sites, up to 2016.

Publication of the draft plan follows the Waste Local Plan Key Issues paper, published last winter.

Consultations on this prompted more than 650 comments from residents, developers and other interested parties. It led to 49 policies for governing waste management, including new measures for protecting the environment and communities.

Durham County Council's director of economic development and planning, Mark Lloyd, said: "This draft Waste Local Plan sets out a comprehensive approach to waste management and is intended to provide greater certainty to communities and industry as to the future location of new waste facilities.

"The way waste is managed needs to change dramatically over the coming years.

"It is, therefore, vitally important that anyone with views on the plan makes them known during this consultation period."

The second draft is likely to be published next winter, and may be followed by a public inquiry.

People can view the current draft at libraries throughout the county, County Hall, district planning offices and on the website www.durham. gov.uk.

Comments can be made by letter or e-mail, and the closing date is February 18.