PAPER, textiles, cans and plastics thrown out by Worcester residents will all be heading for recycling from next week with the launch of the city council's new kerbside collection scheme.

At a special ceremony, being held at The Butts depot on Monday, new recycling vehicles will be handed over to Coun Derek Prodger, the city council's cabinet member for community services.

The first separate collections of recyclable materials from residents will start the following day.

It is expected that the scheme will significantly increase the council's recycling rate and exceed the latest Government target of 16 per cent.

Over the last few weeks, 38,000 homes in the city have been given recycling starter packs, including sacks to separate their household waste.

Weekly refuse collections remain unchanged, but special teams will collect the recycling separately - on the same day as residents' normal collection, but fortnightly.

Households with a green sticker on their starter pack should put their recycling bags out on their normal collection day in the week starting from Monday, and every other week from then on.

Those with an orange sticker on their recycling starter pack should put their sacks out on their normal refuse day in the week starting Monday, June 9.

The hotline for any recycling queries is 01905 722465.