MORE THAN 7,000 tonnes of rubbish need not end up in landfill sites if a recycling trial in South Bucks District Council proves successful.

The Government has told the council to recycle 40 per cent of its waste by 2006.

To meet the new target, the council is to carry out a trial to see if kitchen and garden waste could also be recycled.

Homes in Denham have been chosen for the trial, but if successful, it will be rolled out across the district late next year. The measures mean kitchen and garden waste would not make it into landfill sites like Wapsey's Wood, Gerrards Cross.

Families would separate out kitchen and garden waste before rubbish collection.

Recycling collections of paper, card, glass and cans would continue alongside. The biodegradable waste will then go to a state-of-the-art composting facility in High Wycombe.

Under Government targets the council must recycle 40 per cent of its waste by 2005/06.

If they fail, they will have recycling measures imposed on them by the county council and will have to pay for it too.

People gave strong support in the last council tax survey to increased recycling.

Cllr Bill Lidgate, cabinet member for the environment, said: "Through the efforts of local residents, South Bucks recycles 24 per cent of its household waste using current recycling schemes and is among the top councils in the country for recycling.

"Because it is so good the council has been set challenging targets by the government."

Cllr Lidgate added: "There are many views about waste collections and the purpose of this trial is to see if there are any problems."