THE first phase of a recycling project in Ramsbottom and neighbouring town's has been hailed a success.

And Bury Metro Council's major green project to collect and recycle garden waste from homes across the borough is now to be doubled later this month.

The doorstep collection scheme was launched in August with council staff collecting garden waste from 14,000 properties, part of a £600,000 Government-backed programme A further 14,000 homes are to be brought into the 'round'.

The council is hoping the garden waste scheme will help it reach it's target of recycling eight per cent of the borough's waste by the end of next year.

Garden waste is collected fortnightly, sent to a composting facility andused to fertilise agricultural land. Residents who already compost their own garden waste will be encouraged to continue doing so.

Eventually, garden waste, paper, glass, cans and textiles will be collected from 28,000 properties, sorted and sent for recycling. More than 90 tonnes of waste was collected in the first two weeks -- material that previously ended up in landfill sites.

Coun Stella Smith, executive member for environment and transport, said, "Everyone knows we cannot go on throwing waste away.

"Everyone has a responsibility to try to live more sustainably but the fact that the scheme has got off to a fantastic start is in no small measure down to the residents.

"Participation rates have been excellent so far and residents have been overwhelmingly supportive of the garden waste scheme."