HOUSEHOLDERS in Hambleton have been praised following an increase in the amount of paper and card recycled in the area.

In May this year, in an effort to reverse the declining amounts of paper being recycled in the area, Hambleton District Council introduced new larger blue recycling sacks, as well as enabling people to recycle certain types of card – such as cereal packets and ready meal sleeves – for the first time.

The council, along with its waste partner Yorwaste, shared the £40,000 cost of introducing the new sacks to all households. On average, the amount of paper and card collected from the bags has risen from 165 tonnes a month in April to 209 tonnes in October.

On average, since the new sacks were introduced an extra 37.5 tonnes is now being collected and recycled each month.