A RECYCLING initiative which rewards residents who go green is aiming to attract up to 10,000 households.

The Love Barrow Love Recycling Incentive Scheme has officially launched this month and winners who are found to be eco-friendly will win prizes in random monthly draws.

The scheme has been set up by Barrow Borough Council to improve kerbside recycling rates and meet national targets by reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.

Green-thinking residents can win up to £250 in Love2Shop vouchers which can be redeemed in many shops on the high street.

Jim Shields, recycling officer at the council, said more than 1,500 households had signed up to the scheme so far.

He said: "It's to improve the kerbside collection rate. We are hovering at 26 to 27 per cent. It needs to be 30 per cent - that's our main target.

"A lot of councils across the country are setting up incentives to get people recycling on a regular basis. There is no law for people to recycle so this is the closest local authorities can come to do it.

"The idea is to get more people involved and get them doing it regularly.

"I would be delighted to get 5,000 to 10,000 people registered."

The draw works by selecting a random household as the winner of the monthly prize in an electronic draw.

However, before they are notified and can claim their reward, a recycling officer will check if the winner is recycling cardboard, plastics, glasses and tins, and also appropriately disposing of waste.

Every month, one first prize winner will receive £250,  10 second place prize winners will receive £75 and 15 third place prize winners will receive £25.

The money has been made available through a grant from central government which  the council successfully bid for. The scheme is due to run for two years.

Residents can sign up to Love Barrow Love Recycling by registering online at  www.barrowbc.gov.uk/environment/recycling or ringing 01229 876543 to speak to customer services.