COUNCIL chiefs have unveiled a 'green' scheme to boost recycling rates.

They want to open 50 new recycling sites - currently there are only 14 council managed centres in the borough.

The initiative aims to lift the borough's recycling rates towards its targets of 10 per cent by March 2004 and 18 per cent by March 2006.

It will be funded by a £150,000 Government grant and the council wants to have the new sites in place by next March.

Nearly 100 potential sites for the centres have been identified, and the 50 locations for the centres will be selected from these. There will be 12 or 13 centres in each of the borough's four areas - Altrincham, Sale, Stretford and Urmston.

Every new site will be opened on a six-month trial basis, in a bid to soothe any residents' concerns.

The borough generates 165,000 tonnes of household waste a year and its recycling rate was less than six per cent in 2001/2002.

Trafford is basing its strategy on the successful policy adopted by Stockport, which has 130 recycling centres. This has helped it achieve a recycling rate of more than 11 per cent, the best in Greater Manchester.

Glenn Stuart, Trafford's waste manager, said Trafford needs to make a lot of progress to achieve its recycling targets: "It is recognised that a combination of a dense network of neighbourhood recycling centres and door to door collections of materials is essential if the council is to meet its recycling targets. Recycling must be made more convenient if public participation in schemes and hence tonnages of material collected are to improve.

"The establishment of new recycling centres in residential areas, sited adjacent to local amenities such as shops and pubs, will allow many more people access to such facilities, particularly those households without use of a vehicle."

Schools, churches, and community groups will be encouraged to 'adopt' a centre. Under this scheme they will keep an eye on the facility in return for an annual payment from the council. A centre will consist of half a dozen wheeled containers, collecting glass, paper and cans.

l A list of the potential locations can be seen on the council's website at www.trafford.gov.uk and in libraries.

Written comments can be made about each proposed site and alternative sites can also be suggested.