A LOCAL authority is seeking to start recycling plastic film for the first time.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is to launch a partnership later this year with US-based firm TerraCycle, which has a local depot, to ensure that the common packaging can be disposed of in an environmentally-friendly way.

The new 'green' initiative was announced to last week's full Council Forum by borough environment boss Cllr Jim Smith.

He told colleagues in a report: ""We are working on developing a recycling partnership with TerraCycle, to accept and recycle plastic film at our household waste recycling centres.

"At present, we are unable to recycle it within the borough, but should soon have an outlet available for residents."

The news has been welcomed by his Conservative shadow Cllr Jean Rigby and Darwen East Liberal Democrat Cllr Paul Browne.

TerraCycle specialised in hard-to-recycle waste and has a base at the Suez recycling and recovery UK site in Chanters Way, Darwen

Cllr Jim Smith told the Local Democracy Service: “We are currently looking at developing a new recycling partnership with TerraCycle, who are based at the same facility as the Suez depot in Darwen.

"The company partners with over 600 major brands, allowing them to collect products and packaging that are typically unable to be recycled via kerbside collections.

"The waste is recycled into a new form or pellets, which can then be melted down and moulded by manufacturers into a wide range of new products - such as outdoor furniture, benches, planters and construction applications.

"TerraCycle is currently looking at more efficient ways to scale up its recycling and collection programmes across the UK.

"This partnership would initially form part of a six-month trial to collect and recycle specific waste streams via our Household Waste Recycling Centres.

"If successful, it would allow us to accept and recycle complex packaging and products such as plastic film at our household waste recycling centres.

"This would be a fantastic step in our efforts to increase the borough's recycling rates, as well as benefitting the environment.

"We’re hoping to see this six-month trial begin by the final quarter of this year."

Cllr Rigby said: "This is a really good scheme. I fully support it. Anything that can be done to recycle plastic and keep it out of landfill and the oceans is to be welcomed."

Cllr Browne said: "I think this is a brilliant idea. I am all in favour of it."