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In addition to the 6,000 households currently taking part in the scheme, 24,000 further households will now be able to recycle their batteries, bringing the total number of households participating to 30,000.

The scheme, which is being run by Harlow Council and ECCO in partnership with WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme), was originally launched in April 2006. Since then, more than 40,400 batteries have been collected ? the equivalent of over one tonne of waste being diverted from landfill to be recycled.

Councillor Eleanor Macy, Harlow Council's Chair of the Environment and Community Committee, said:

?This is a very encouraging development to an important pilot scheme. I would like to thank Harlow residents for their battery recycling effort, it's fantastic that even more people can now participate. I'm delighted that this scheme will enable more items to be recycled by residents rather than sent to landfill.?

Chris Davey, Manager Local Authority Relations at WRAP, said:

?It's quick and easy to add batteries to your recycling routine and every battery counts. It's great to see that the residents of Harlow have made battery recycling a regular habit, and I'm sure this enthusiasm will be adopted by many more residents as the scheme extends.?

The scheme now covers all properties with ground floor front doors across the Harlow district. Designed to help residents to recycle more batteries more of the time, size AAA, AA, C and D size household batteries - as well as button, mobile phone, laptop and rechargeable batteries can be recycled through this kerbside scheme. Residents in flat blocks can take their batteries to the Recycling Centre for Household Waste.

WRAP is operating trials of kerbside collection in 13 local authority areas across the UK; retail take-back schemes in Swansea, Perth & Kinross, and Eastleigh in Hampshire; community drop-off trials in Camden, Cherwell and Falkirk and postal trials in parts of Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.