RESIDENTS in Droitwich and the rest of Wychavon are being urged to shape up for the Mission Impossible waste challenge that is set to hit their homes this week.

Wychavon District Council, along with Worcestershire County Council, has challenged householders to cut the amount of waste they put out for collection each week.

With the help of money-saving offers, the scheme aims to help everyone find a simple, easy way to recycle their rubbish.

Mission Impossible Challenge packs will be delivered to all houses in the area at some point this week.

As well as giving information on waste minimisation, it also contains money-saving offers on a range of products such as compost bins, wormeries, and green cones that can help residents deal with their kitchen and garden waste at home.

"It is important people in Wychavon rise to the challenge," said initiative co-ordinator Carol Trehearn.

"Many people think recycling and actions, such as composting, are not for them.

Football pitch

"But last year, the residents of Wychavon threw away 47,000 tonnes of rubbish. Piled up, this would cover an average football pitch 21ft high.

"So it really is time for everyone to make waste their mission. We are urging as many people as possible to take direct action and, by doing so, they can reduce the amount of rubbish thrown away, cut waste disposal costs and help the environment."

Residents in Wychavon have already started to make a difference to waste levels by supporting the hugely successful kerbside collection scheme.

But they have been warned that if they don't accept the latest mission, the cost of waste disposal in the next five years will go up by 50 per cent.

n The drive for more household waste recycling has also hit Wyre Forest, when Severn Waste Services commissioned a new depot at Hoobrook in Kidderminster.

The new centre will be the reception point for thousands of tonnes of paper, cardboard, cans, textiles, and glass collected by the District Council from households.

New special-purpose collection vehicles will discharge their loads into concrete storage bays at the site.

The new centre will be manned full-time and is equipped with the latest computer-based weighbridge system for accurate measurement and record keeping.