With the jaws of the credit crunch continuing to bite, Cumbrians are being urged not to give up on going green.

Just as prices on other commodities are falling, the value of some recyclable materials has dropped - but the message from Resource Cumbria, the strategic waste partnership between the six district councils and the county council - is keep recycling.

Not only does it have major benefits for the environment, it also saves people cash - an even more important plus point in these recessionary times.

Resource Cumbria is well aware of the changing state of the national and international recycling markets, but the situation in the county is far from doom and gloom.

While the value of recyclable materials including cardboard has dropped, on others such as glass it has remained constant and there is still a market for Cumbrian recyclate.The Resource Cumbria partnership is continuing to manage the markets and work closely with recycling contractors to ensure best value is achieved.

No recyclable material is currently being stockpiled anywhere in the county as markets are still being found.

And like other commodities recyclate retains a higher value the better its quality, so all Cumbrians can help by ensuring they take small steps such as washing and squashing and separating their materials.

Another important area where everybody can help is in waste reduction. Not creating waste in the first place means it won't need to be recycled - and the less waste people create the more likely they are to be saving money, by throwing away less food for example.

By continuing recycling at the kerbside, at recycling points and household waste recycling centres as well as reducing waste, every person in Cumbria can play a part in softening the credit crunch's blow on the county's recycling markets.

Alec Proffitt, the waste partnership's development officer, said: "While the current economic downturn is having an impact on recycling, we shouldn't let a temporary blip in the markets undo any of the big strides that people have taken in going green.

"The situation in Cumbria is being well managed and the Resource Cumbria partnership is doing all it can to ensure best value is achieved.

"Recycling remains vital in the battle against climate change and it saves everyone money. Even though we are in the grip of the credit crunch the message is still the same - reduce first, reuse what you can and recycle what's left."

Resource Cumbria partnership chairman, Carlisle City Councillor Ray Bloxham, added: "By working together as a partnership we are very well placed to deal with the economic recession and make sure we both encourage people to continue recycling and achieve the best value for our recycled material that we can.

"Thanks to the outstanding efforts of the district councils, Cumbria is exceeding its recycling targets."