ECO-FRIENDLY residents have smashed the district's recycling targets.

The aim was to recycle 18 per cent of Bromsgrove's waste for 2005/6, but in March the town achieved a rate of more than 30 per cent, with the average for 2004/5 standing at 24 per cent.

Councillor Brian Fuller, (Con - Hillside) Bromsgrove District Council's cabinet member responsible for waste, said: "This is excellent progress and we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who is supporting our recycling campaign.

"It has been operating a year now and the results are better than we had expected."

He added: "I am delighted that so many residents are taking recycling seriously by filling up their blue and red boxes and making use of our kerbside collection.

"It is very important for us to do all we can to save our natural resources and we are eager to get more people on board and raise our rates even further."

Cllr Fuller said the need to recycle away from landfill was paramount because space was running out and because of other related environmental problems, such as the production of methane.

A special exhibition recycling bus, made up of many recycled parts itself, will be visiting the district inviting residents to climb on board and explore a host of informative and interactive displays. A team will also be talking to residents on their doorsteps handing out help and advice on how to make the most of their kerbside recycling collection.

The district council has widened its range of recyclables by expanding its plastics collection to include bottles listed under the three category and now takes any with a one, two or three marking.