Councils use Blue Planet effect to help boost county's recycling performance

South Yorkshire's four local authorities are working together in a bid to improve recycling rates across the county, with each pledging to make services easier to use in the year ahead.
Important: Using recycling bins is under focus across South YorkshireImportant: Using recycling bins is under focus across South Yorkshire
Important: Using recycling bins is under focus across South Yorkshire

The national Recycle Week starts on September 24 and that is being used as a springboard to launch work by councils in Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster, which are all operating in conjunction with the charity Waste and Resources Action Programme, or WRAP. Their work will focus on educating the public about how people can recycle more, and in turn make the planet more sustainable. The event is being launched at a moment where public focus has been drawn to the issue by events such as the Blue Planet Two television programme, which highlighted the impact of plastic waste now in the world's oceans. That opportunity is being exploited by all four councils, which will each be following their own programmes to encourage better use of recycling opportunities, while also improving the facilities they offer. Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster Councils already co-operate on waste disposal, with a centre to deal with waste from the three boroughs now operating in the Dearne Valley. Social media will be used to help drive the campaign, with an opportunity for people to tweet the South Yorkshire Waste Partnership @WasteLessSYorks. Groups or organisations involved in their own projects to support recycling week are being encouraged to make contact through Twitter. Chairman of the steering committee for the South Yorkshire Waste Partnership, Paul Castle, said: 'We want to thank South Yorkshire residents for the great recycling that's already being done.  'We are keen to push this even further by shaking up our routines and making us think every time we put something in our waste bin. Please ask yourself, can this be recycled instead?  We also want to encourage everyone to reduce waste and to re-use wherever possible.' Â