Thousands of households across Barrow Borough will be taking part in the second phase of a new recycling and waste collection scheme next week.

A fortnight ago homes in the first section of the Borough including Askam, Hawcoat and Central Walney, received red bags for recycling plastic and cardboard at the kerbside.

And Easter week will be the first time residents will get cardboard and plastic collected from their doorsteps rather having to take them to recycling centres.

These materials will be collected on the same day as the paper, glass and cans.

New, more compact bins are also replacing the larger bins to encourage people to recycle more and these are being delivered next week to the areas where plastic and cardboard is being collected.

Barrow Borough Council recycling officer, Peter Buckley, said: "This new and improved recycling and waste collection scheme is really starting to gather pace and I'm sure people are going to notice the benefits and make the most of it.

"We have had a really good reaction to the new system and a good response from householders requesting additional containers for collecting paper, glass and cans which shows they are preparing to recycle more materials to reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill."

To inform people about the changes being made to waste collection and recycling in Barrow, a series of roadshows and presentations in schools have been taking place across the borough.

On Saturday (April 18) Barrow Indoor Market will be the venue for the latest roadshow, which takes place from 10am-3pm.

Recycling officers from Resource Cumbria - the waste partnership between the county and six district councils - will be on hand to offer advice, explain the new scheme and take orders where necessary for the various recycling containers (boxes and green bags only).

Peter added: "We have worked closely with our colleagues from the county council in running a variety of roadshows and other events and up to now, the response has peen roughly 80-90 per cent positive about the scheme, so we are really pleased with how people are reacting."

Watch the Local Government Association video about the new Barrow recycling service. (external link)