HUDDERSFIELD'S latest tourist attraction is ... a load of old rubbish!

The town's recycling plant is to throw open its doors to the public next Thursday.

Kirklees Waste Services, which owns and runs the recycling unit as part of the new waste plant in Vine Street, is offering visitors the chance to find out what happens to their rubbish.

Each year, Kirklees Council collects 235,000 tonnes of waste. Of this, 13,000 tonnes goes into green wheeled bins and is sorted at the materials recycling plant. This was opened in December.

Terry Bradley, managing director of Kirklees Waste Services, said: "Visitors will see where we sort the card, paper, metal and aluminium from the green wheeled bins, put it into bales then send it off for recycling.

"The `waste to energy' plant has not been finished so the public cannot look round that yet.

"We are doing this as part of a national event on behalf of environmental charity Going for Green.

"It aims to encourage people to think about household waste."

The new £33m `waste to energy' plant - in which an incinerator will be used to produce power - comes into operation next month and will be fully commissioned in January, 2002.

The open day is part of Waste Open Week 2001, designed to increase public awareness. The plant can be toured between 9am and 3pm but individuals, groups and schools must ring Lynn Sant beforehand on 01484 541355.

* Sue Ryder Care Shops have joined with Going for Green to ask people to recycle unwanted clothes by taking them to charity shops. Each year, 900m garments go into landfill sites.