Kirklees Council is looking to recruit more volunteer recycling champions.

The council has almost 50 volunteers who work with communities across the district to encourage and promote recycling.

Clr Will Simpson, Cabinet member for culture and greener Kirklees, said: “Being a recycling champion is all about working together to deliver our shared vision of a cleaner, greener Kirklees where waste is valued as a resource rather than it being simply thrown away.

“The role involves volunteering a bit of your time to talk to friends, neighbours, work colleagues and community groups about recycling and reducing waste to help create a better environment in Kirklees.

“If you are interested in the environment, recycling, and reuse, if you like sharing information with others, or would simply like to understand more about recycling and minimising waste, you could become a recycling champion and help us to create a cleaner, greener Kirklees.”

Simon Pike (pictured above) is a member of the first cohort of recycling champions and said: “Being part of the recycling champions has provided me with insight into how recycling operates and is developing in the region.

“I have been impressed by the enthusiasm and motivation of the council team with its genuine desire to make things work and to improve recycling rates for the benefit of everyone in Kirklees.”

The recycling champion role is very informal and flexible. Recycling champions provide advice and guidance to people in the local community about reducing waste, reusing and recycling items and reducing their impact on the environment. Champions are given training and receive an information pack with useful items to pass on to others.

Current recycling champions engage in a wide variety of activities including helping others know how to use their green recycling bin effectively, assisting the council’s recycling and waste advisors at recycling events, distributing leaflets, explaining where to take items that can be reused and networking with other champions to share tips and knowledge about recycling opportunities in Kirklees.

If you like the sound of becoming a recycling champion, you can register your interest online at https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/bins-and-recycling/recycling-champions.aspx