KERBSIDE recycling, the biggest doorstep rubbish initiative ever to hit west Wiltshire, began this week with the first collections.

Homes in Trowbridge, Melksham and Hilperton are the latest to be included in the £1m scheme, in a bid to reduce the county's overflowing rubbish dumps. Wiltshire residents currently throw out 685 tonnes of rubbish every day, and an estimated 60 per cent could be recycled.

The recycling initiative has been set up through a partnership between Wiltshire Waste Partnership and Hills Recycling and a fleet of purpose built lorries costing £84,000 each will take tonnes of rubbish to a recovery facility in Compton Bassett.

Doorstep recycling is now running in Chippenham, Calne, Corsham, Melksham and Trowbridge. By the time the project is completed, over 40,000 homes in west and north Wiltshire will be using the scheme.

Tim Miller, of Hills Recycling, said: "This is crucial to the future of waste. Our rubbish sites will be full within 12 years and that is not far away unless we change our habits.

"We are bringing recycling straight to people's doorsteps, it really couldn't be easier. People will still be able to take rubbish to recycling centres around the county but they now have a chance to easily split up their rubbish and put in a box outside the back door.

"Hopefully people will get into the habit and start thinking before they through away rubbish, 'wait I can recycle this'."

Last year over 55,000 tonnes of rubbish was recycled but organisers are hoping to raise the amount by 15,000 tonnes in 2004. The scheme was launched in Chippenham and Calne in September and recycling bosses have reported a good response rate.

Newspapers, magazines, glass bottles, jars, aluminium foil, food and drinks cans, textiles, leather belts and shoes can be recycled.

However, plastic bottles, broken glass, crisp or peanut packets, cardboard, Yellow Pages, duvets or pillows cannot be recycled under the scheme.

To find out more about the recycling scheme and the streets involved call 0870 242 7596 or visit www.wasteinwiltshire.com

FACTFILE

At least 60 per cent of rubbish in a typical bin bag is recyclable.

The average Wiltshire family produces over 1.5 tonnes of rubbish every year.

The volume of rubbish is increasing by five per cent every year, and Wiltshire's rubbish tips are expected to be full within 10-12 years.

Wiltshire currently produces over 250,000 tonnes of rubbish every year, or a staggering 685 tonnes a day.

The new free collection will eventually cover 57,500 homes throughout Wiltshire.

Over 44,000 of these will be in west and north Wiltshire.