HOUSEHOLDERS in the Chorley and South Ribble area made it a green festive season with their contributions to a waste recycling project.

The Green Waste Collection Scheme, a three-year trial which began in April, uses brown-coloured bins for residents to dispose of organic waste such as grass, bedding plants, vegetable peelings, cardboard food packaging and Christmas trees.

So far more than 8,000 tonnes of waste, which would otherwise have gone to landfill, have been collected. The materials will be turned into peat-free compost and soil improvers for local use.

Around 34,000 homes in the three districts are participating in the scheme which is being co-ordinated by South Ribble Environmental Ltd in partnership with the three borough councils.

After the trial period the scheme, which has received more than £1 million funding from agencies including the county council and the participating councils, will be adopted by the councils and possibly expanded across the boroughs.

Lindsey Williamson, project officer for South Ribble Environmental Ltd, said: "Schemes such as this are becoming increasingly important because of national and European legislation requiring the reduction of the amount of biodegradable waste that goes to landfill. It is something everyone can help to achieve."

Christmas trees placed next to the bins will be collected and taken away to be composted.