MORE than half of residents are taking part in the recently launched kerbside recycling scheme but Kennet District Council wants more participants.

The council in partnership with Wiltshire County Council and districts in the county was successful in a bid for just under £1million from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to launch the kerbside recycling collection service in Devizes and Marlborough a few months ago.

Each eligible household is given a black box to put in newspapers, magazines, glass bottles, steel and aluminium cans, textiles and foil to be recycled.

During the first month of the scheme an extra 250 tonnes of recyclable materials was collected with a participation rate of nearly 60 per cent.

The council has to achieve a target of recycling 25 per cent of household waste by March 31 2006.

A paper collection service is to be launched shortly in areas including Aldbourne, Ramsbury and Pewsey.