ENVIRONMENTALLY-friendly households across the North West are doing their bit for the environment, and recycling more than ever before.

In June a drive was launched by the County Council to try recycle more household waste, to cut down on the amount being poured into landfill sites.

The county's 26 local recycling centres -- who sort the rubbish then decide whether to recycle it or send it to landfills -- were given targets to reach. By 2002, 50 per cent of the rubbish brought to the sites must be recycled.

But it has now been revealed the recycling average for this year is already more than 60 per cent.

Ken Taylor, General Manager of Lancashire Waste Services, the firm which runs the recycling sites on behalf of the County Council, said: "Everyone benefits from recycling. We can recycle nearly everything, and there is no limit to the amount we can recycle. We will keep pushing the level upwards."

County Coun Brian Johnson, cabinet member for community and regeneration, said: "The organisation of the centres has been a spectacular success in a very short time. The public are becoming more and more aware. The public are becoming more and more aware that we can't go on filling up landfills.