HOUSEHOLDERS in Teignbridge are being urged to step up their recycling by hunting out more ways to reduce waste.

During national Recycle Week, which starts on Monday, a major hunt is being launched for the ‘unusual suspects’ lurking in homes across the district.

Teignbridge Council, in partnership with Recycle Now, the national campaign for recycling, are encouraging people to become ‘in-house detectives’ and search for more items which can be recycled.

The scheme is already in use locally by more than 90 per cent of English authorities.

Figures show that while six out of 10 people now describe themselves as committed recyclers, there is still more to be done to reduce waste and increase recycling.

Items such as toilet rolls and aerosol cans are often overlooked but can be recycled.

The campaign is not restricted to homes, however, as people are being encouraged to search workplaces for items that are slipping through the net.

Teignbridge Council’s new Ten Year Strategy outlines re-using and recycling more, reducing energy consumption and encouraging work practices that reduce the environmental footprint.

Cllr Kevin Lake, Teignbridge Council’s executive member for environment services, said: ‘Our commitment to reduce waste and carbon emissions is at the heart of our Teignbridge Ten strategy.

‘We welcome national initiatives such as this in working towards a positive impact for our local environment.

‘We would like to use our own initiatives and success to encourage more people and businesses to play their part in reducing the overall environmental impact.’

Recycle Now says if everyone recycled one toothpaste box, it would save enough energy to run a fridge in more than 2,000 homes for one year.

If everyone recycled one aluminium deodorant aerosol can, it would save enough energy to run a TV in more than 151,000 homes for a year.