FOOTBALL fans' empties boosted recycling as they celebrated England's early success in the World Cup before eventually drowning their sorrows.

Marcus Hart, Wyre Forest District Council's cabinet member for commercial services, said: "We collected a significant number of cans and bottles during the World Cup. It means that more people are getting the message that it's better to recycle."

The boost came as it was revealed residents had recycled more than 20,000 tonnes of rubbish through the district's kerbside scheme, which began in September, 2003, when households were given two boxes to recycle items including paper, plastic bottles and clothes. More properties have since been added to the scheme, which now collects from nearly 40,000 homes every week.

Each month, more than 650 tonnes of recycling is collected and used in producing anything from newspapers to aeroplanes.

Mr Hart said: "Recycling 20,000 tonnes is a great achievement. It's also 20,000 tonnes less sent to landfill sites."

Wyre Forest residents now recycle well over 25 per cent of their rubbish, outstripping the district's statutory target of 18 per cent.

Meanwhile, an anti-litter message has been taken on to the streets of Kidderminster by the council, in the form of street theatre.

As part of Kidderminster Arts Festival, the Desperate Men - Rubbish Heads were recruited to show how people dropped litter indiscriminately in public places.

Mr Hart said: "Live performance is a really powerful way of getting the anti-litter message across. It is important people aware aware that there are consequences to dropping litter. No-one likes to see rubbish everywhere. We all need to play our part in keeping our local environment clean and tidy."