More than 100t of street dirt has been recycled in Liverpool, under a pioneering scheme launched last month.

In the first scheme of its kind in Merseyside, Liverpool City Council is recycling the grit, dirt, drinks cans and bottles collected when the streets are swept.

Cllr Berni Turner, Liverpool’s executive member for the environment, said the scheme would increase the city’s recycling rate by up to 4%.

‘It’s fantastic that this new scheme will allow us to not only divert so much waste from landfill but also have a solution which benefits the environment.’