RECYCLING champions are being urged to sign up to a Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council scheme to help other residents follow their good example.

The council is setting up a network of keen recyclers who want to do their bit to help other people recycle more and share their ideas for boosting recycling rates with the council.

The Recycling Champions can give as much time as they can spare, helping out just by reminding their neighbours what to put in their bin, or by organising events to promote recycling.

Councillor Elaine Still, the council's Cabinet environment chief, said: "Research has shown that people who are good at recycling are great champions to help those who find it difficult or confusing, or think recycling takes too much time and doesn't make a difference.

"The great thing is that the Recycling Champions scheme is very flexible. No matter how much time a Recycling Champion can spare, they can make a big difference.

"Recycling more and getting people to use the range of recycling services we provide is one of the most difficult challenges Basingstoke and Deane faces and those residents who are already doing a good job can help us with this challenge."

The council will be organising visits to the borough's recycling and composting centres for Recycling Champions so they can see first-hand what happens to material collected from the borough's doorsteps.

The best recycling ideas submitted by the champions will also be published on the council website and in promotional literature.

To sign up, call 01256 844844 and speak to the recycling officer, or e-mail recyclingchampions@basingstoke.gov.uk