Voluntary organisations in the district could receive up to £30 for every tonne of waste they recycle if plans to introduce recycling credits get the go- ahead.

The proposal, discussed at a meeting of Bradford Council's environment scrutiny committee yesterday, would see money awarded to schemes diverting rubbish away from landfill sites, as part of the authority's strategy to increase recycling in the district.

Paul Forrest, formerly of the Bradford Environmental Action Trust (BEAT), said in a presentation: "The schemes pull materials out of the main waste stream which helps local authorities avoid the cost of landfill. So we should be looking to support these organisations."

Plans to introduce further recycling measures were also discussed as the committee considered ways to increase current recycling levels of ten per cent of all waste to 25 per cent by 2005. Professor John Barton of Leeds University outlined a "co-mingled" scheme in Leeds where householders were able to recycle paper, plastic, card and cans in one kerbside bin.

And Phil Hesford, project director of the Urban Minds business initiative in Castleford, presented a scheme to help generate recycling businesses and products made from recycled waste.

It was second day of a recycling hearing held by the committees. Open to the public, it is considering the Council's targets for recycling in relation to funding available.

Richard Wixey, director of environmental protection and waste management at Bradford Council, said: "Currently just four per cent of the budget for my department is spent on recycling. But as the amount of waste we produce grows and the rate of landfill tax increases we cannot afford to do nothing about this scenario. It is just not an option."