HOUSEHOLDS in Redditch will be rewarded for reducing their waste in a trial which sees Worcestershire County Council joining forces with Greenredeem.

The campaign will encourage residents to reduce the amount of waste they throw away through a number of activities including purchasing compost bins, changing to reusable nappies or planning their meals.

Greenredeem provide incentives to households to encourage them to change their behaviour around waste and the environment.

In return they will receive Greenredeem points which can be swapped for vouchers to redeem in shops or leisure facilities.

Alternatively residents can donate their points to local charities and community projects, with the projects with the most points receiving a share in £1,000 at the end of the campaign.

There will also be points awarded to those households that present their recycling correctly; clean and loose in their recycling bin and not in plastic bags.

Councillor Tony Miller, cabinet member with responsibility for the environment said: "This is an innovative campaign and we really want to encourage the residents in Redditch to reduce the amount of waste they throw away.

"There are lots of ways residents can earn their points and we hope that as many people as possible will sign up for the campaign."

For those residents that have signed up to the scheme, local businesses will offer discounts and incentives to those who produce evidence of participation.

Councillor Debbie Chance, portfolio holder for environmental services at Redditch Borough Council, said: “We are delighted that Redditch has been chosen to trial this incentive. The whole community will benefit from the campaign; residents can earn themselves an array of vouchers – with something to suit everyone’s tastes – creating more trade for local businesses.

"Local charities and community projects will benefit from additional funding and not forgetting that the whole project will help the environment too. It’s a win-win all round."

Residents will start receiving information about the campaign from the beginning of September and it will be officially launched at the Kingfisher Shopping Centre on October 1 and run until the end of October 2018.