A RUBBISH campaign launched by Cherwell District Council to increase recycling rates has been given a top award.

The council was named the winner of the Best Information Technology and Communication Initiative at the annual Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE) awards.

The award recognised the council’s 2013 Christmas recycling campaign, which used Facebook to increase residents’ understanding of recyclable items while promoting its £10 winter bin sale.

The initiative, called A Rubbish Guide to Christmas, centred on an interactive advent calendar that helped residents to learn more about which bins certain pieces of rubbish should be placed in.

Over a three-week period, this campaign reached an audience of more than 160,000 people; increased year-on-year recycling rates by 11 per cent and helped to sell almost 1,500 recycling bins to provide additional capacity.

Kieron Mallon, lead member for communications, said: “It is a huge honour and we are thrilled to have been presented with this prestigious award."

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