RESIDENTS are being encouraged to help save the planet as National Recycle Week arrives in Bury.

Now in it's 15th year the weeklong celebration of recycling and its benefits takes place from September 24 to 30.

As part of celebrations a Roadshow will visit Bury on a tour of Greater Manchester, stopping at the Co-op Store in Mill lane on September 27, where residents can ask questions and get the latest advice from the recycling team.

Ahead of the week Bury Council is calling on residents to take simple steps to help improve their recycling efforts.

Top tips for Bury residents include putting all types of plastic bottles in their blue mixed recycling bins, and reducing your non-recyclable waste footprint by, for example, choosing products with minimal or recyclable packaging.

The council also reminded residents that while it is charged for every tonne of waste from grey bins sent from the borough, it receives an income from recycling ­— as long as items are place in the right bins.

The council's call follows recent research by Recycle Now which revealed that 56 per cent of people in Greater Manchester put at least one recyclable item in general waste, while 86 per cent put items in their recycling bins that are not recyclable locally.

Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment at Bury Council, said: "There’s never been a more vital time to drive home the message about recycling all plastic bottles in the blue recycling bin.

“Recycling and re-using things is really beneficial – it’s great for our environment and it saves energy too.

"For example, if everyone in Greater Manchester recycled one more bathroom cleaner bottle, it would save enough energy to power a primary school for two years.

"So if you are a still a bit of a recycling sceptic, please do think again. Everyone should recycle as much as they can because it matters, every item really does count.”