DUSTBIN lorries may soon be able to collect recyclable materials from the doorsteps of people living in the Malvern Hills area.

Malvern Hills District Council has been given two DEFRA awards totalling nearly £500,000 to fund a kerbside recycling service in urban areas and a micro recycling project - using wheelie bins to accept recyclable products - in rural areas.

It now hopes to clinch a funding deal with Worcestershire County Council enabling it to extend the kerbside recycling service across the district.

"We have been in talks with the county council, which might be able to divert some of its money from its Private Finance Initiative to the district council's recycling initiative," said Paul Sobczyk, the district council's head of client services.

"We want the county to cover the funding gap between what the council can provide with the DEFRA funding and a more enhanced service."

The council's executive committee agreed that a delegation should conclude negotiations with the county council.

This is in preparation for a future kerbside recycling service, which will help the district council achieve Government guidelines, which are to recycle 18 per cent of waste by 2005/6.

The council's seven new refuse collection vehicles will be split-bodied, enabling them to carry rubbish and recyclable waste.

The authority hopes the fleet will eventually collect green waste one week and paper and textiles another. If extra funding enables an enhanced recycling service, householders may have paper and textiles collected alternately with cans and plastic.

"Worcestershire County Council's cabinet has supported the idea of helping the district in this. For the people of the district this is very good news, and not before time," said Coun Tom Wells.

People now have to take their newspapers, textiles and glass recycling banks to various sites throughout the area or use a rural mobile recycling service that visits villages.