HOUSEHOLDS in a rural borough can now put cleaned-out pots, tubs and trays in their blue bins for recycling for the first time.

Residents can now deposit clean plastic pots, tubs and trays, including yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and food trays of any shape or colour in their blue bins for collection.

The plastic waste will be recycled and turned into new products, such as fleeces, pillows and bottles.

Linda Boyer, Ribble Valley Council’s waste management officer, added: “Residents have been asking us for years if they can recycle yoghurt pots and margarine tubs – well now they can.

“Plastic makes up a substantial percentage of household waste and filling your blue bin with these products will boost our recycling rates significantly.”

The following items can now be placed in blue bins: glass bottles and jars, food tins, drink cans, clean foil and foil trays, empty aerosol cans, metal biscuit and sweet tins, metal bottle caps and lids, plastic bottles and lids, plastic pots and tubs, trays and punnets (film lids and absorbent pads should be placed with general rubbish), chocolate and biscuit tubs and trays, plastic plant pots, tubs and trays.