BURY'S "green" waste paper kerb-side collection scheme is about to go even greener: literally.

The white bags, which are collected every fortnight, have been getting jammed in the recycling plants along with the newspapers.

Council bosses are now to send replacement green bags to householders across the borough.

Mr Keith Holland, education and awareness officer, said: "On occasion, the odd white plastic bag has slipped through the paper-sorting stages of the recycling process. The end result has been production lines having to be closed down while the problem is sorted.

"Various solutions have been attempted, but it seems the only fail-safe method is to bring in the green bags, which are far easier to see and retrieve if they do get mixed in with papers and magazines."

Figures show that the amount of paper being collected has risen by ten per cent to 44 tonnes a week.

More is expected as residents will now be allowed to put glossy brochures, magazines and leaflets in the bags.

Councillor Julie Higson, executive member for the environment, said: "This will help us to improve recycling borough-wide and get closer to the national recycling targets that we are striving to achieve.

"Having said that, we are keen that if people are already giving to collections run by charities, schools or other organisations, that they continue to do so."