DISCOVERING her family's weekly rubbish weighed more than one of her children definitely gave Purvi Wood some food for thought.

The revelation made the full-time housewife and her husband Richard even more determined to do their bit when the city's doorstep recycling scheme starts next week.

The pair, who, in last week's Counterpoints described a burning desire to be more environmentally friendly, agreed to have their garbage scrutinised to find out how wasteful they really are.

But the couple were overwhelmed to find their four bin liners of refuse weighed a whopping 46lbs - more than their four-year-old son, Asher.

"I was very surprised how much we throw away without thinking," said Purvi.

"But now the doorstep scheme has been introduced, I'm very keen to know exactly what I can and can't recycle."

Worcester City Council's recycling promotions officer, Emma Stuart, who volunteered to rummage through the Wood's rubbish, said they were on the right track by recycling their glass.

But she maintained around half their refuse could have been re-processed if it had been sorted out.

"They literally throw away everything," said Mrs Stuart.

"I think their rubbish will go down drastically when they start the scheme because of the amount of things they use which can be recycled."

Because Purvi has the time to cook food from scratch, Mrs Stuart found the Wood's waste did not contain many tin cans.

But, unfortunately, items like yoghurt pots, which were ten-a-penny, are unsuitable for the city's doorstep scheme.

"People could try and recycle these kind of things themselves but there is such a small market that it would prove difficult, which is a shame," she said.

One notable environmental hazard was the 21-plus disposable nappies for Asher and two-year-old Judah.

Despite Purvi's "green" outlook, the 30-year-old, of Belmont Street, Rainbow Hill, said she had never been swayed by the real nappy campaign.

The fact is that around eight million disposable nappies are thrown away in Britain every day, with 90 per cent ending up in landfill sites and taking hundreds of years to decompose.

This means, on average, a child will use the equivalent of 45 supermarket trolleys of nappies from birth to toilet training.

In addition to the environmental benefits, home laundered nappies can also save parents up to £500.

And, according to the Women's Environmental Network, the way to avoid nappy rash is to buy organic cotton and hemp nappies and organic wool waterproof overpants.

Worcester City and county councils are 100 per cent behind the campaign and are offering starter packs for parents to test (see panel for contact number).

One initiative Purvi is keen to join is to compost the large quantity of fresh vegetable waste the family produces.

"Contrary to popular belief, peelings do not simply biodegrade but produce atmosphere-polluting methane," said Mrs Stuart.

"We can provide information on getting compost bins, wormeries and water butts if people are interested in doing that bit extra."

When it comes to being eco-warriors, the Woods are typical across Britain.

Very few have the time, the space or the inclination to sort through their rubbish, put it into different bags or containers and cart it all the way to a variety of recycling banks.

But, when the new doorstep scheme begins on Tuesday, June 3, this will hopefully change.

Although householders will still have to make the initial effort, the city's trusty refuse collecters will take most recyclable items away from the kerbside of 38,000 homes, fortnightly.

Organisers of the scheme will be at the Farmers' Market at Royal Worcester on Sunday between 10am and 2pm to give advice and answer queries.

n See Counterpoints on Thursday, June 19, to find out how the Wood family responded to their first recycling collection.

GO GREEN

Doorstep recycling: For: food and drink cans, pet food cans, aerosols, cooking foil and foil trays, plastic drinks and plastic milk bottles, plastic toiletries and household cleaning bottles.

Newspapers, magazines, thin card (ie cereal boxes and microwave meal boxes/outers), telephone directories, letters, photocopies, junk mail, envelopes, clothing, towels, sheets and pillow cases. (Remember to remove the tops from bottles).

NOTE: The following cannot be recycled:

Margarine tubs, yoghurt pots, black drinks bottles (ie: Tango), microwavable food trays, cling film and food wrap, squeezy bottles (ie: salad cream or ketchup), crisp bags, meat trays, fast food trays, polystyrene, plastic carrier bags, duvets and glass. If in doubt about whether a plastic item can be recycled, look for the recyclable sign on the bottom or label - if it has a 1 or a 2 within the sign it can be recycled.

Bottle banks: More are being added around Worcester. See the city council website for details.

The Real Nappy Service: Call Real Nappy advisor Mandy Wright on 01905 35598.

Compost heaps, wormeries and water butts:

Call Devon-based Original Organics, which has joined forces with the city council, on 01884 841515.

For more information call the city council hotline on 01905 722465 or e-mail your question to recycling@cityofworcester.gov.uk