RECYCLING in Ryedale has been hailed a success by the overwhelming majority of residents.

The local authority has pushed through a new kerbside recycling scheme in a three-year roll-out, despite strong opposition from some householders.

But council chiefs say residents are "voting with their boxes" - and a new survey proves it.

Five hundred households in the district were asked about the council's new alternate weekly collections of refuse and recycling materials.

Of those who replied:

98 per cent said the new arrangements were more convenient.

83 per cent have never, or only occasionally, had problems with excess waste.

Commercial services manager Phil Long said: "I would like to thank residents for their dedication in separating materials out for recycling and for taking the time to tell the council their views on waste matters.

"This survey, together with the high tonnages of recycling materials that have been separated out by residents, shows that recycling has become very popular with local residents. The results of the survey will be reported to the community services and licensing committee in April."

Ryedale councillors have always maintained that the controlled kerbside recycling roll-out, with a number of pilot schemes, has been more successful than similar efforts in York.

Meanwhile, 20 per cent of those surveyed asked for a direct plastics collection, and 11 per cent asked for cardboard.

District councillor Keith Knaggs has thrown his weight behind the calls, and has proposed the council launches a six-month trial to test demand for cardboard recycling.

Coun Knaggs said: "I was approached by a constituent about extending our kerbside collections to include cardboard. This is a difficult area because, although cardboard can be a material for composting, the end-user market otherwise is under-developed. However, we should try to respond to public request and a lot of our success with recycling stems from doing pilot schemes, learning the lessons and then rolling out an improved scheme progressively rather than going for a 'big bang', which bangs all right - in your face, as in York."

Coun Knaggs has asked the council to fund a trial in one or two areas. Councillors will decide next week whether to go ahead with it.

Updated: 15:57 Wednesday, February 15, 2006