Residents across South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse are being encouraged to recycle with confidence this Recycle Week by following one simple message: Don't Guess. Check it before you chuck it.

The campaign is part of the councils' Waste Less. Clean Spaces. Better Places. campaign, which is helping residents reduce waste, make the most of the resources they use and keep local communities cleaner and greener.

Most households across the districts recycle regularly, but many of the wrong items still end up in recycling bins, sometimes up to 22 per cent, because people are unsure whether something can be recycled. Although well intentioned, placing the wrong items in the recycling bin can make it harder for good-quality materials to be recycled into new products. And, if items are messy (such as food residue or nappies), it can prevent whole truckloads of recyclable items from being recycled.

By taking a few seconds to check the Oxfordshire Waste Wizard (Oxfordshire.gov.uk/wastewizard) before recycling, residents can help improve the quality of recycling collected across the districts and make sure more recyclable items are recycled.

Cllr Sue Cooper, Cabinet Member for Environment at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: "Most of us recycle every week because we want to do the right thing for the environment, but it's not always easy to know where every item belongs. Recycle Week is a great opportunity to remind ourselves that if we're unsure, it's always worth taking a moment to check first. That small action can make a big difference, helping to reduce the chances of recyclable items getting ruined and ensuring more of our recycling can be transformed into new products."

Councillor Robert Clegg, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Climate Action and Nature Recovery at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: "Every correctly recycled item helps conserve valuable resources and supports a more sustainable future. By taking a few extra seconds to check before putting something in your recycling bin, you're helping us to recycle as much as possible, making sure more materials stay in use for longer. Together, those small actions really do add up."

The councils are also supporting WRAP's national "Rescue Me, I'm Worth It!" campaign, which encourages people to see every-day recyclable items as valuable resources, rather than rubbish. Through fun, character-led messaging, the campaign reminds us that plastic bottles, cans, cardboard and other recyclable materials all have the potential for a second life when they're recycled correctly. By rescuing these items from the wrong bin, residents can help keep valuable materials in use for longer and play their part in creating a more circular economy.

To find out more, residents are invited to come along to one of the upcoming town markets where members of our Waste Team will be on hand to answer their questions:

• 16 September – Wantage – 8am-3pm
• 25 September – Wallingford – 9am-2pm
• 6 October – Faringdon – 8:30am-1pm
• 13 October – Thame – 8am-2.30pm

29 October – Henley – 9am-2pm