COUNCIL bosses hoping to encourage residents to go green today offered cash for trash in a new environmental scheme.

Burnley Council is offering money in a prize draw set up as part of a kerbside collection initiative.

And they are offering a £100 first prize in the draw which can be entered by anyone who leaves out their waste paper in special white collection bags next month. The competition will be drawn at the end of March, close to the Easter weekend.

The news comes after the authority received an overwhelming response to a similar cash for trash collection at Christmas.

Charles Bullas, council executive member for public protection and community safety, said: "The prize draw we ran over the Christmas period was well received resulting in a substantial increase in the amount of paper collected."

The authority is asking people to think before they bin if their household waste could be put to better use.

He added: "As most people are aware paper production can cause the destruction of our woodland habitats which provide a home for a variety of different plants and creatures.

"By taking part in the paper recycling collection scheme residents are doing their bit to help protect the wider global environment. Every 7,000 newspaper and magazines we collect in Burnley for recycling saves about 30 trees."

To take part in the prize draw just pick up a leaflet from any Burnley Council office, enter your name and address on the back and put it in the recycling bag for collection between Monday, February 25 and Friday, March 22.