Researchers from Oxford Brookes University spent a day picking through piles of rubbish produced by hotels and guest houses in west Oxfordshire to help the environment.

Matt Todd The team, from the centre for environmental studies in the school of hotel and restaurant management, was taking part in a major research project aimed at reducing the amount of waste going to landfill sites.

They sorted through rubbish to try and find alternative uses for it, including recycling and composting, at an industrial unit in west Witney.

The university's project manager, Matt Todd, said: "The hospitality industry produces a large amount of waste which can be diverted from landfill. We will be publishing the results of our findings in a handbook for accommodation and catering managers across the UK."

The project has been funded by Biffaward, a multi-million pound environment fund which uses landfill credits donated by Biffa Waste Services.

It is supported by other groups including the English Tourist Council, the Environment Agency and West Oxfordshire District

Council.

**Picture: Antony Moore