NEWPORT'S recycling charity Wastesavers has outlined plans as it celebrates an important achievement.

It was revealed last month that the city had reached a 25 per cent recycling and composting rate two years ahead of schedule.

Now the organisation hopes to further increase the amount of recycling by:

* relaunching the Community Furniture Shop - extending opening hours and the range of material available and reducing prices where possible.

* introducing the collection and redistribution of white goods including fridges, freezers and washing machines.

* adding the collection of toner cartridges and mobile phones to the green and blue box kerbside collection service.

*opening the new Education Centre within the Cleanstream Resource Centre, to focus on schools and local education groups.

* rolling out recycling minisites to more communal flats and sheltered housing schemes.

* continuing to expand commercial collection from pubs and clubs.

* launching a training centre to empower the long-term unemployed and disaffected young people through offering New Deal placements and NVQ training.

* offering training to local businesses including first aid at work and forklift truck training The £1.4 million Resource Centre was officially opened in March. Last year Wastesavers recycled over 4,000 tonnes of paper, nearly 2,000 tonnes of glass, almost 500 tonnes of plastic, over 300 tonnes of steel cans and nearly 300 tonnes of textiles.

Ron Jones, Newport's cabinet member for transport and sustainable development said, "Wastesavers are a key part of the recycling and composting service we offer to residents in Newport.

"Through their new centre they now have the capacity to process the extra recycling many people are now putting out, and can expand their operations further, with help from the council."

For further information about recycling in Newport residents can call 01633 656656 or visit www.newport.gov.uk/recyclefornewport.

For more information on Wastesavers please call 01633 281281, email mail@wastesavers.co.uk or visit their website www.wastesavers.co.uk.