West Oxfordshire is starting 2002 with a more determined green agenda.

The district council is planning a campaign to publicise its recycling services and expand the fortnightly kerbside collection to include cans, bottles and papers.

Details of discount garden composters are also to be sent to every household and more schoolchildren will see the council's What a Waste show.

The initiatives follow a countywide household survey in which there was overwhelming agreement that more should be done to minimise waste and meet European Union targets for recycling.

Cabinet councillor for the environment George Kellow said: "We want to encourage residents to use the council's recycling services -- 37,000 tonnes of household waste is produced within the district each year, and most of this ends up in landfill sites.

"This has a cost both to the council tax payer and to the environment".

A new calendar of refuse and recycling collection dates will go out this month.

One of the messages from the public consultation is that not enough is being done to recycle plastics. District council officers are being asked to investigate.

The What a Waste show, which uses clowns, gives a strong environmental message and has already visited some west Oxfordshire schools. More school shows will take place in the spring.

Council spokesman Carys Davies said further details about the recycling service could be obtained on 01993 770222.