A Wearside council has become the first local authority in the country to offer a unique kind of recycling service. It is hoped that Sunderland council's new carton collection scheme will catch on with neighbouring authorities.
Cartons are difficult to recycle because they are made of a composite of paper, plastic and aluminium.
The cartons will be collected once a month and taken to the Fettykil Mill plant in Fife, the only such plant in the UK.
Jim Alprovich, asst head of environmental services for Sunderland council, said there is an opportunity to work with other councils in the area.
He said: "There has been some element of interest from neighbouring authorities and obviously if other councils were to get involved we would be able to cut down our service costs."
About 60,000 tonnes of cartons are used in the UK each year.
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