North Lanarkshire Council has announced its new recycling initiatives and accompanying changes to its bin collection system which sees residents in the north and central areas asked to start using their blue recycling bins for the disposal of plastic food containers and bottles; steel, aluminium and empty aerosol cans; textiles; newspapers, magazines, telephone directories and junk mail; tetrapak cartons; clean aluminium foil and both plain and corrugated cardboard from Monday, June 2.

However, residents in the south area, which includes, Motherwell, Bellshill and the surrounding area, will not come into the new scheme until Monday, August 25, to allow time for the first phase to bed down.

Councillor Helen McKenna, convener of the environmental services committee, said: "A huge communications campaign is underway to tell residents how the new scheme will work. Education officers are making home visits, and other officers are meeting with community representatives across North Lanarkshire.

"Roadshows will be taking place across the north and central areas in the coming weeks which will give residents the opportunity to put their questions to our officers.

"And a link from the council's internet home page will provide easy access to all the available information.

"Residents in the north and central areas should not use their blue bins for anything other than paper until Monday, June 2. Similarly, residents in the south should continue to use their bins as normal until Monday, August 25.

``In the meantime the council will continue to issue information and work with residents to ensure the new scheme is implemented and delivered as smoothly as possible."

More information can be obtained from the council's environmental helpline on 403110.