RECYCLING firm bosses want to be able to reuse more materials brought to their operation at the former Hapton Colliery site.

Managers of Enviro Skips, based at the old Hapton Valley pit, currently recycle about 70 per cent of the waste collected in their containers, but plans have been lodged with Lancashire County Council for extensions which they say would increase that figure to 90 per cent.

The company wants to establish a concrete-crushing facility to the colliery site, and level off land to enable trailers to be parked there.

Planning agents acting on behalf of Enviro Skips said the proposals will not result in more material being brought to the Hapton depot.

But it would reduce the amount which the firm eventually sent on to be landfilled, to about 3,700 to 3,800 tons per year.

An extension to the existing waste transfer station there is also schemed into the blueprints, alongside a new screening device for paper, card and timber.

Six jobs would be created as a result of the plans, according to the firm, which also include a new plastic extraction process.

The full application can be inspected at Burnley council's planning office in Parker Lane.

Views on the application, to be determined by the county council, should be sent to the Environment Directorate, Guild House, PO Box 9, Cross Street, Preston, Pr1 8RD, by January 4.