A NEW campaign urging residents to recycle more household items has been backed by Cotswold District Council (CDC).

The Gloucestershire Waste Team campaign is calling for residents to recycle 'unusual suspects' including aerosol cans, perfume bottles and toilet roll tubes.

During Recycle Week 2016 - which begins on Monday, September 12 - there will be a focus on driving up recycling of these often overlooked items.

Councillor Sue Coakley, CDC Cabinet Member for the Environment and Chair of the Gloucestershire Waste Committee, said: "Recycle Week is an ideal time for residents in the Cotswolds and further afield to take a fresh look at their recycling habits and consider whether they could recycle even more items.

"There are lots of places around the home where the unusual recycling suspects can be found, such as in the bathroom or bedroom.

"If more of these were recycled it could save huge amounts of energy. In fact, if everyone in the UK recycled just one toothpaste box, it would save enough energy to run a fridge in over 2,000 homes for a year.

"Recycling aluminium deodorant and air freshener aerosol cans is also hugely significant – if everyone in the UK recycled just one more aluminium aerosol can, enough energy could be saved to vacuum over 480,000 homes for a year.

"Plastic shampoo, shower gel and moisturiser bottles can all be recycled as well. Many cleaning products – such as washing up liquid bottles, soap dispensers, bleach bottles and spray cleaners - can all be recycled.

"However, please ensure that spray triggers and pump tops are placed in general waste as they can’t currently be recycled."

For more information visit facebook.com/recyclenow or recyclenow.com