The plastic items will be converted into items such as drain pipes

Six centres will now collect waste from residents in Canterbury, Deal, Dover, Ashford, Folkestone and Sandwich.

The unwanted plastics will be converted into drain pipes, spare car parts and even clothing items.

The recycled materials will be reprocessed by a plastics company in Stratford-upon-Avon.

The scheme, which is due to run for nine months, is being funded by Kent County Council (KCC), which will be monitoring take-up to assess its future.

KCC cabinet member for Environment and Transport, Richard King, is chairman of ReMaDe Kent & Medway, which has teamed up with KCC.

He said the initiative would enable residents "to recycle more and more plastics which will then become the raw material for new products".