LESS waste could be buried underground in North Yorkshire in future if people living in the county play a bigger role in recycling.

A recent survey, which polled 400,000 homes in the county by post and canvassed another 3,500 people by phone, suggested most people accepted recycling is important.

As many as 70 per cent of those who responded confirmed they already use existing facilities - although the majority would not do more if it meant an increase in the costs.

However, the North Yorkshire Waste Management Strategy Group has established that most people would be willing to separate kitchen, garden and general waste for special collections.

Councillor Arthur Barker, Hambleton District Council spokes-man, said: "It seems residents want to take responsibility, with local councils, for cutting down waste levels, meaning more recycling and less reliance on landfill.

"The Waste Management Group now needs to analyse the results of these surveys in detail and come up with a set of proposals to determine the future of waste management in North Yorkshire.''