The Rethink Rubbish initiative involves householders being given containers to handle different types of waste.

About 6,000 householders in the Alvaston area are now being included in the project, with several other areas in the city already covered.

Council chiefs hope the extension will help it meet its government target of recycling 30% of household waste by March next year.

'Massive support'

Since the scheme started in April 2003, the rate has risen from 12% to the current 21.5%.

Councillor Sara Bolton, cabinet member for environment and direct services, said: "Our 30% target is one of the toughest in the country, but, thanks to the massive support of residents, we are well on the way

"We should be proud of the fact that we are preventing thousands of tonnes of paper, plastic, steel, aluminium, glass, textiles and garden waste being buried in the ground forever.

"Next year we will be making the scheme available in even more areas of Derby."