WEST Dunbartonshire residents are being reminded that almost all metal packaging used around the home can be recycled – leading to huge environmental and financial benefits.

If all of the metal packaging used in West Dunbartonshire homes each year was collected for recycling, it would save around 1492 tonnes of carbon dioxide - the equivalent to taking 317 cars off local streets for a year.

West Dunbartonshire Council’s convener of Regeneration, Infrastructure and Economic Development, Councillor Iain McLaren said: “Our new recycling campaign has a widespread focus on changing the way we think about recycling and making it something we all do without even thinking about it.

"Anyone who doesn’t recycle can become a recycling champion with just a few simple changes.

"Metal is a great example of the benefits that recycling can bring. It’s a material that can be recycled time after time, saving money for the Council and impacting much less on the environment.”

Diane Docherty, vice convener of Regeneration, Infrastructure and Economic Development, added: “Every can recycled saves enough energy to run a TV for four hours. So a small action like putting your empty soup tin into your blue bin can make a big difference.

"We are very grateful to our residents who recycle and we now need to reach those who maybe aren’t as engaged. The rewards for recycling are massive and each and every one of us will benefit.”

To highlight how all recyclable items go through a process to be re-used, the Council’s new campaign includes the slogan “We Wanna Do It All Again,” as if spoken by the items themselves.

All the information on recycling in West Dunbartonshire is available at west-dunbarton.gov.uk/recycle.