ENHANCEMENTS to a recycling collection scheme is paying dividends - with less waste going to landfill.

Richmondshire District Council launched the improved schemer in September last year and since then an extra 84 tons of material has been picked up at the kerbside.

Added to that the amount of household waste collected - waste that goes to landfill – had dropped by 105 tons. The overall recycling rate increased from 35 per cent to 37 per cent during over the past year,

Cllr Tony Duff said: “This was precisely the aim of enhanced kerbside recycling so it is very encouraging to see our work having such a positive and practical impact.

“I would like to thank our residents for stepping up their efforts to recycle. It helps the environment and creates additional income which keeps costs down."